The hottest International Trade Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

✅ African public relations agency recognised by The Financial Times

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 04 May 23
💼 Business International Trade
  1. BHM, an African public relations agency, was named one of Africa's Top 100 fastest-growing companies by The Financial Times. This is a big deal for a privately owned firm.
  2. The agency focuses on helping African businesses reach international markets and helping foreign companies understand Africa. This is important as businesses look for new opportunities.
  3. BHM values hard work and community involvement, with a strong team made up of people who have grown within the company. They even created World PR Day to highlight the importance of public relations.

How do companies react to geoeconomic pressures?

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
💼 Business International Trade
  1. Tariffs, sanctions, and export controls raise input and sales prices and generally reduce sales and profit margins, with tariffs having the biggest price effect.
  2. Firms that are targeted by others' export controls or tariffs are most likely to boost domestic investment and R&D and consider bringing production home.
  3. Overall, these measures rarely achieve broad backshoring; instead they mainly increase costs for consumers and squeeze company profits.

The US-China Chip War is Escalating

Apricitas Economics • 80 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics International Trade
  1. 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.
  2. China is significantly increasing imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to fortify its chip industry, even amidst trade disputes and sanctions.
  3. 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.

BYD approach toward Global South market

TP’s Substack • 22 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
💼 Business International Trade
  1. Cars in Global South countries tend to be smaller and more fuel-efficient compared to those in the United States. This is important for companies like BYD to consider when entering these markets.
  2. BYD's current models may be too large for many consumers in the Global South, where smaller vehicles are preferred. They need to develop smaller cars and hybrids to better fit local preferences.
  3. The charging infrastructure in these regions is lagging behind, meaning that practical and affordable vehicles are crucial. BYD should focus on making adaptations for local markets to increase sales.

Can Bitcoin Save The U.S. Dollar?

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 23 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
💰 Finance International Trade
  1. Some politicians suggest creating a Bitcoin reserve for the US, thinking it could help the dollar's value and stability. They believe having Bitcoin might make the US economy stronger.
  2. Having reserve assets like Bitcoin is not as necessary for the US dollar, which is already powerful globally. The dollar doesn't need extra support from things like Bitcoin because it's already widely used.
  3. Adding Bitcoin to the US reserve wouldn’t really help the dollar; it might just serve to enrich some investors. The government should focus on what truly supports the economy, not on trendy assets.
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Europe's second 'China shock' is blessing in disguise

Klement on Investing • 1 implied HN point • 09 Dec 25
💰 Finance International Trade
  1. Cheap Chinese exports are once again putting heavy competitive pressure on European manufacturers, repeating a shock similar to two decades ago.
  2. The flood of lower-priced imports is pushing down consumer prices and easing inflationary pressures across Europe.
  3. That disinflation gives the European Central Bank more leeway to cut interest rates in 2026, potentially easing financial conditions and supporting growth.

The cost of CBAM

Klement on Investing • 1 implied HN point • 24 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment International Trade
  1. CBAM will raise EU import and export prices only very slightly on average, so it is unlikely to drive broad inflation or meaningfully cut business profits.
  2. The price impact is highly uneven across countries and products: some imports like cement from dirty producers can become many tens of percent more expensive, while most goods see negligible increases.
  3. Those targeted price increases make polluting imports less competitive and incentivise cleaner production or sourcing, pushing exporters to upgrade their methods to stay in the EU market.

China clarifies its beef import investigation

Beijing Channel • 6 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🌍 World Politics International Trade
  1. China's Ministry of Commerce has started an investigation into beef imports due to a big increase in imported beef that is hurting local cattle farmers.
  2. The investigation was prompted by requests from multiple industry groups worried about the impact of rising imports on their livelihoods.
  3. China emphasizes that the investigation is not targeting specific countries and that normal trade will continue during the probe.

The US Is Bankrupt From Top To Bottom - Only A Total Realignment of Its Economy Can Save It

Oz’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics International Trade
  1. The US economy is facing a crisis from top to bottom due to its reliance on unsustainable financial practices.
  2. The US dollar losing its reserve currency status has led to massive economic repercussions.
  3. A total realignment of the US economy is crucial to create tangible value and move away from financial shenanigans.

No Foxy Business 🦊

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
💼 Business International Trade
  1. The term 'Foxconned' reflects how people might feel tricked by promises of jobs and progress that don't turn out as expected.
  2. In India, there are changes to labor laws allowing longer hours and shifts, making it easier for companies like Apple to operate there instead of in China.
  3. These changes are part of a larger strategy by the government to attract tech companies, but they raise concerns about workers' rights and job security.

Exports are what you pay for imports

Wrong ideas strongly held • 0 implied HN points • 06 Apr 25
💰 Finance International Trade
  1. When a country imports more than it exports, it can seem like a bad deal, but it often leads to gaining valuable goods. The value comes from the items received, not the currency exchanged.
  2. People usually trust money because they need it to pay taxes. This makes currency valuable even if it seems like just paper.
  3. If a country keeps trading real goods for currency without producing anything in return, it could face problems later. Eventually, the countries trading with it may realize they’re not getting fair value.