The Decisive Podcast: Insights and analysis to empower confident decision-making.

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives deep into the complex world of the maritime shadow fleet, exploring its emergence and evolution since the introduction of the oil price cap on December 5, 2022. Joined by Ines Nastali, Senior Supply Chain Analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, the discussion covers how these oil tankers operate outside traditional regulatory fr...

In this episode of The Decisive, we're sharing highlights from our US macroeconomic webinar on May 20, featuring expert commentary from our economics team at S&P Global Market Intelligence. We dive deep into the forecast for the US economy, which faces a slowdown. Projected growth is expected to average just 0.8% per quarter in 2025, raising questions about the potential for a recession. We explai...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam explores the complex landscape of tariffs under the current administration, focusing on the implications of Section 232 reviews. Joined by experts Chris Rogers and John Anton , the conversation covers the nuances of industry-specific tariffs that impact a wide range of sectors, from steel and aluminum to electronics and pharmaceuticals....

In this episode of The Decisive podcast, experts from S&P Global Market Intelligence explore the complexities of global trade negotiations and their profound impact on geopolitical relationships. The panel discusses the objectives behind U.S. trade policy, including the implementation of tariffs as negotiation tools and their implications for job markets and elections. Gain a comprehensive underst...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, S&P Global Market Intelligence's Paul Smith is joined by fellow economists Andrew Harker and Annabel Fiddes to explore the latest findings from the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data. The discussion focuses on the significant impact of recent tariff announcements on the global economy, with a particular emphasis on Asia. Listeners will gain insights into...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the shipping and logistics industry. Joined by industry experts Eric Oak and Eric Johnson , the discussion covers the distinctions between AI and automation, the current applications of AI in shipping, and the challenges companies face in leveraging this technology. ...

Join host Kristen Hallam and a panel of experts as they discuss the growing concerns of domestic instability impacting countries around the globe. With a focus on the repercussions of the 2024 election cycle, the conversation explores how economic inequality, technological disruptions, and political polarization are reshaping social contracts between governments and citizens. Listeners will gain v...

In this insightful episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam moderates a discussion on the potential impacts of the April 2 tariff announcements and their implications for global trade. Featuring expert analyses from S&P Global Market Intelligence's Ken Wattret, Aries Poon, Eric Oak, and Thomas McCartin, the episode explores how tariffs are reshaping supply chains, affecting domestic industries...

In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives deep into the intricacies of PIERS, the Port Import-Export Reporting System, with Brendan Neary, Product Manager in S&P Global's trade portfolio. Together, they explore the evolution of PIERS data, its historical significance, and its vital role in understanding global trade flows. Brendan explains how the dataset has adapted to mo...

In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages in an insightful discussion with S&P Global Market Intelligence experts Shuchita Shukla and Dijedon Imeri about the implications of potential U.S. tariffs on the European Union's economy.  Recorded shortly after significant tariff announcements by the US government, the episode delves into how these measures could reshape trade d...

The episode of The Decisive, taken from a March 20 webinar, features insights from experts including Ken Wattret , Ben Herzon , Arlene Kish , Nicolas Suarez , Timo Klein , and Hanna Luchnikava-Schorsch. The panel of economists discusses evolving economic and trade policies and their implications across various regions. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the current economic policies i...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam discusses the hot topics from the recent Transpacific Maritime, or TPM, conference with Mark Szakonyi, executive editor of The Journal of Commerce, and Chris Rogers, head of supply chain research at S&P Global Market Intelligence.  Mark and Chris provide insights on the effects of proposals by the US government such as tariffs, the innov...

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Paul Smith , alongside economists Andrew Harker and Joe Hayes, reveals the latest trends and insights from the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data, with a particular focus on the impact of tariffs on global manufacturing. The economists highlight the contrasting performance of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican manufacturing sectors, exploring how tarif...

In this episode, host Kristen Hallam dives into the complexities of global security hotspots and their profound effects on marine cargo with expert insights from Columb Strack , Head of Global Cargo Risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Kristen and Columb explore the repercussions of geopolitical conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and its impact on Black Sea trade dynamics, as well as t...

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam leads a discussion of key takeaways from TPM25, the world's largest container shipping converence, which recently took place in Long Beach, Calif. Kristen interviews S&P Global Market Intelligence's Natznet Tesfay , Vice President and Head of Insights and Analysis, and Jack A. Kennedy , Head of Middle East North Africa Country Risk, who...

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam interviews Economics Director Arlene Kish about the outlook for the Canadian economy and the potential impact of US tariffs and reciprocal Canadian tariffs. Should you stock up on maple syrup? Which industries could be most impacted? How is domestic political uncertainty affecting business investment and other aspects of the economy? "Ex...

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam interviews Byron McKinney, Product Management Director for S&P Global's Trade Compliance Solutions. As they explore the complexities of sanctions and trade compliance, listeners will gain valuable insights into the latest developments affecting international business. Recorded in anticipation of the upcoming S&P Global Market Intelligenc...

What key priorities will the new administration and a Republican-majority Congress emphasize as President Donald Trump embarks on his first 100 days in office? How will these initiatives shape the US economic landscape and influence the operational environment?  Our experts will offer insights on tariffs, trade, the US economy, metals markets, immigration and foreign relations among other issues t...

In this episode of our podcast, taken from our January 2025 webinar, we dive into the latest trends and insights from the global construction industry. Our experts share their perspectives on the current state of the market and the outlook for the coming year. They discuss how our economic forecasts inform our views of the industry and  highlight key themes to watch within each region. Listen now....

As the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict approaches, The Decisive podcast delves into the current outlook for the war and its implications for global security.  For this discussion, host Kristen Hallam is joined by two experts, Blanka Calnan, Head of European Country Risk, and John Raines, Head of North America Country Risk. They explore President Donald Trump's approach to NATO, pa...

In this episode of the The Decisive podcast, taken from our Jan. 21 client webinar, Ken Wattrett , Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, leads an insightful discussion of the macroeconomic landscape for 2025.  Ken's conversation with Ben Herzon and Yating Xu focuses on the potential impacts of the new US administration's policies on the economy. Various factors are...

In this episode of The Decisive, Emily Crowley , head of the Pricing and Purchasing team at S&P Global Market Intelligence, analyzes the potential impacts of proposed changes in tariffs and immigration policy in President Donald Trump's second term. This is an excerpt from a Dec. 11, 2024, webinar.  Listen now for insights in how these changes could impact your procurement activities. More S&P Glo...

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, we delve into the pivotal trade and immigration policies of President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares for his inauguration on January 20th. Join host Kristen Hallam and Head of North American Country Risk John Raines as we explore the implications of these policies on US-Canada and US-Mexico relations, the potential economic impacts of proposed tariffs, a...

Economic angst is one of our four key themes for 2025. The anchors around the global economy — low inflation, low interest rates, international cooperation and frictionless trade — have become unmoored. This adds uncertainty to the outlook for growth in 2025 and beyond.   In this episode, S&P Global Market Intelligence economists including Ken Wattret , Chris Williamson , Ben Herzon , and Hanna Lu...

The interplay of geopolitical rivalries, economic shifts and evolving trade dynamics will define a conflicted global landscape over 2025. In our last episode of 2024, we explore four key themes shaping this environment: economic angst, domestic discontent, elusive alliances, and trade troubles. These capture the fragility of global economic growth, the rise of unstable coalitions, the evolving nat...