Trade Splaining is back! After a summer break (and one new baby later), Ardi and Rob return to make sense of what’s changed — and what hasn’t — in global trade, business, and expat life. From the latest round of tariffs and China’s “pivot” away from developing-country status at the WTO, to why AI might be the next big trade disruptor, we break down the stories shaping the global economy in 2025.

We’re also joined by Neil Shearing, Chief Economist at Capital Economics and author of The Fractured Age, to unpack how geopolitical rivalries are reshaping globalization — or maybe just rearranging it.

In This Episode:

🎵 Why global trade sounds like a Kelly Clarkson song

🇨🇳 China’s slowdown vs. export boom — and what Michael Pettis got right

💸 Why tariffs haven’t been inflationary (yet)

🧠 How AI is quietly rewriting the rules of services trade

🌍 Neil Shearing on the U.S.–China split, Europe’s role, and who wins in a fractured world

🕰️ Plus: Swiss MAGA farmers, salmon sperm facials as recession indicators, and the new rock-solid watch from Tissot

Keywords:

In Episode 80 of Trade Splaining, we’re pulling back the curtain on everything from secret sausage wars to how Apple helped build modern China. Along the way, we break down the increasingly blurry line between trade policy and geopolitics, why AI is now after your desk job, and how sober tailgates and millennial nostalgia are the new macro indicators.

Special Guest: Patrick McGee, FT journalist and author of Apple in China, joins us to explain:

Why Apple didn’t just outsource manufacturing to China—it helped build it

How a $55B investment strategy turned into a Marshall Plan for advanced manufacturing

Why decoupling is harder than we think, and what it means for the future of globalization

Also in this episode:

Is trade policy dead—or just dressed up as national security?

The AI job shock: not just repetitive tasks, but white-collar jobs too

A big new EU–Switzerland trade deal (and an even bigger name: “The Bilaterals”)

Listener feedback, airline mysteries, stolen sausage secrets, and the return of All-American Rejects

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows.

Description:

💡 What You'll Hear in This Episode:

Circular Reasoning (with actual logic): Guest Eva-Maria Bille of the European Environmental Bureau unpacks why circular economy policies matter more than ever—especially in a world of inflation, geopolitics, and defense budgets.

Shipping News That Doesn’t Suck: The IMO’s historic (kind of) net-zero deal for shipping by 2050, what it means, and why it’s both hopeful and half-baked.

Sell America? Moody’s downgrades the US credit rating, tourism is slowing, and Americans are quietly flocking to Swiss banks. Coincidence? We think not.

GDP Is Over Party: A new push to rethink how we measure economic health. Is it time to dump GDP in favor of balance sheet metrics?

Brexit: The Silent Patch-Up: A new EU-UK trade deal smooths post-Brexit trade pain. Is it a quiet realignment or political heresy?

Swiss Wool Emergency & War Readiness: From Geneva’s updated war brochure to a growing sheep wool crisis, it’s your must-hear Swiss WTFs.

🔁 Also Featuring:

Listener shoutouts to "Eric" and Ron "Burgundy"

Michelle’s "Vibe Shift" report: Enron eggs, TikTok satire, and the birds that were never real

A kebab-off between Geneva and Beirut

A surprisingly accurate Bond reference and sheep-related crisis management

📬 Subscribe, review, share—and email us your feedback or best kebab takes at TSpotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode Summary:

Plus, New York Times journalist Peter S. Goodman returns for his third appearance to discuss how the ground-level impact of tariffs is changing the game—from Colombian factory floors to bourbon country in Kentucky.

We’re also talking nearshoring, recession vibes, and why Geneva’s exotic bird problems could signal more than just invasive species.

🔍 In this episode:

Why China’s slowdown is not just about growth, but a structural shift in manufacturing

What the "China China Shock" means for global supply chains

Is Trump’s tariff plan actually a branding strategy?

What whiskey, rye, and Louisville have to do with nationalism

And…the clean girl aesthetic as a recession indicator 🧴

🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Special Guest:

🔗 Connect with us:

X / Twitter: @TradeSplaining

Instagram: @trade.splaining

Email: [email protected]

Episode Summary:

Our guest, Professor Joost Pauwelyn, joins us to break down 21st-century customs fraud, how trade rules are shifting, and why the WTO may actually survive this era of economic uncertainty.

If you’ve ever wondered how renewable energy, geopolitics, and tariffs intersect—or whether you should still care about composting—this episode is for you.

🔹 In This Episode:

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 Links & Mentions:

Episode Summary:

Plus, we dive into:

All this, plus a deep dive into the latest global trade shifts, economic uncertainty, and what it means for businesses, workers, and everyday consumers.

💰 Tariff Wars 2.0 – The U.S. is escalating trade restrictions at breakneck speed. We analyze:

🏡 Work From Home Under Fire – Are remote workers actually working on Fridays?

👔 Gen Z’s Rejection of Middle Management – A shocking new study says:

💎 The Diamond Market Crash – Why the $80B diamond industry is imploding post-COVID.

💊 China’s Biotech Boom – China now produces 30% of the world’s new drug patents, up from 5% just a decade ago.

🇨🇭 Switzerland News Roundup – Only in Switzerland…

🎙️ And, of course, plenty of listener feedback, jokes, and the best trade analysis that won’t put you to sleep!

Episode Summary:

We also speak with Ed Gresser, VP of the Progressive Policy Institute, who helps unpack tariff escalation, economic shifts, and the power of data in today’s rapidly evolving trade landscape.

Oh, and we discuss how Afghanistan is suddenly a booming tourist destination (yes, really) and why Jaguar just dropped $80 million on custom car paint.

Expect deep insights, witty banter, and the kind of trade talk that actually keeps you awake.

🔥 Tariffs & Trade Wars 2.0 – The U.S. is going all-in on tariffs, but will it backfire? We analyze who gets hit hardest and why Mexico is taking a one-month pause before retaliating.

🧠 AI’s "Sputnik Moment" – China’s DeepSeek AI has shaken the global tech world, wiping out $1 trillion in U.S. tech stocks. Are U.S. chip restrictions failing? And what does this mean for the future of AI dominance?

🇪🇺 Europe’s Economic Identity Crisis – Is the EU finally rethinking its strict regulations? We break down how France and others are pushing for fewer rules and bigger corporate champions to compete globally.

🇨🇭 Switzerland’s Trade Play – While everyone else tightens their borders, Switzerland is expanding free trade agreements, doubling down on market access amid rising global tensions.

✈️ Tourism in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan? – Believe it or not, thousands of tourists are flocking to Afghanistan. We examine who’s going and why.

🎨 Luxury or Lunacy? Jaguar’s $80M Paint Investment – While most of the world worries about inflation, Jaguar is out here spending millions to offer more custom paint jobs. A smart branding move or just another sign of widening wealth gaps?

🎙️ Guest Spotlight: Ed Gresser (PPI) – We talk tariff escalation, trade shifts, and why data matters more than ever in economic policymaking.

📌 [02:00] – AI’s “Humanity’s Last Exam” – Should we be worried?

Welcome to Trade Splaining, the podcast that makes sense of international trade, business, and expat life without putting you to sleep! In our first episode of 2025, Rob and Ardi dive into a new year of trade predictions, global trends, and some surprising insights about life, business, and...sausages?

In This Episode:

Other Highlights:

Fun Fact: This is episode 73, the atomic number of tantalum, tying it all back to international trade and rare resources!

Listener Call-to-Action:

Where to Listen:

Listen Responsibly

In this week’s episode of Trade Splaining, Rob and Ardian explore the latest quirks and complexities of global trade and economics, with a special focus on cultural preservation.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Stay informed, stay curious, and, as always, listen responsibly! 🎙️