The hottest International Trade Substack posts right now

Hedge fund managers party on Wall Street despite looming dangers.
Retail sales unexpectedly rose in the US, but fell in other countries, impacting exports.
House Republicans join Democrats in passing budget resolution, causing Wall Street to react positively.

Former President Trump won the New Hampshire primary, leading in GOP base support
Despite consecutive defeats, Nikki Haley vows to continue fighting for the Republican nomination
President Biden dominated New Hampshire Democratic primary without being on the ballot

Semiconductor chips are critical to global supply chains and geopolitical tensions, with the US intensifying efforts to boost domestic manufacturing while imposing sanctions on China.
China is significantly increasing imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to fortify its chip industry, even amidst trade disputes and sanctions.
Despite efforts to restrict China's access to advanced chips and equipment, there are challenges faced by the US in fully controlling the semiconductor trade and maintaining successful sanctions.

Argentina is facing a severe economic crisis with massive currency devaluation and high inflation, but there is hope for stabilization with proposed governmental changes and monetary reforms.
China's property market is experiencing significant challenges, with key real estate firms facing default, worker payment issues, and the country slipping into deflation, raising concerns for a possible global recession.
The BRICS alliance, particularly China and Russia, is strategizing to lessen dollar dominance by expanding membership and discussing possible alternatives, like involving major oil exporters and establishing a new reserve currency, amidst complexities and challenges in implementing such changes.

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Brazil's President Lula da Silva visited China to deepen strategic partnerships and challenge US dollar dominance by signing cooperation agreements, focusing on trading in local currencies.
China is Brazil's largest trading partner, with significant trade surpluses, and both countries have seen substantial growth in bilateral trade over the years.
Political coups in Brazil, backed by the US, led to economic downturns, but under Lula and Dilma, the country advanced, lifting millions out of poverty and shaping key economic relationships.

Economist Michael Hudson debunks Paul Krugman's arguments on de-dollarization, highlighting historical economic misconceptions by Krugman.
Krugman dismisses the importance of controlling the world's reserve currency, arguing it's overrated, but fails to address the impact of capital flows on currency values.
Krugman's defense of the US dollar relies on tautological reasoning, stating the dollar is powerful because it's widely used, without acknowledging geopolitical shifts away from the dollar.

Ukrainian president Zelensky is actively seeking investment from US corporations like BlackRock, JP Morgan, and Goldman Sachs, encouraging them to do business in Ukraine.
Zelensky's government has implemented aggressive anti-worker policies, limiting union rights and encouraging a pro-corporate environment.
Western governments and corporations are planning aggressive neoliberal reforms for Ukraine, aiming to privatize and deregulate industries with the help of powerful entities like BlackRock.

Apple's revenue in China fell 13% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.
Apple is returning to revenue growth overall after four quarters of decline.
The decline in China's revenue could be due to consumer sentiment or geopolitical tensions.

Western sanctions and boycotts affected transparency of Russian oil route information
Pricing of Russian oil is a significant topic due to the Russian-Ukrainian war
Data on international trade and ship movements can offer insights into the ongoing economic conflict

The US economy is facing a crisis from top to bottom due to its reliance on unsustainable financial practices.
The US dollar losing its reserve currency status has led to massive economic repercussions.
A total realignment of the US economy is crucial to create tangible value and move away from financial shenanigans.