Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo: International Commerce, Trade Wars, and Global Supply Chains

Episode 57 of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo examines the stunning 15.4% surge in South Korea ETFs over the past week, as global trade flows realign amid shifting supply chains and a weaker dollar. Hosts Lucas and Luna break down why Korea is benefiting from China plus one strategies, the role of semiconductor exports, and what the won's stability means for investors. They also touch on the broade...

Lucas and Luna dive into Taiwan Semiconductor's expanding global footprint, examining how TSMC's new fabs in Arizona, Japan, and Germany are rewiring chip supply chains amid geopolitical tensions. They discuss the $65 billion US investment, the impact on global trade flows, and what this means for the broader semiconductor ecosystem. With the S&P 500 hitting record highs and emerging markets surgi...

The US dollar index has slipped from 120 to 119.5 in early June 2026, a small move with big consequences for global trade. Lucas and Luna unpack how a weaker dollar is boosting emerging-market currencies, making US exports more competitive, and shifting the trade balance. They look at specific ETFs like EWY (South Korea) up 14.9% in five days, and EEM (emerging markets) showing strength. The episo...

Lucas and Luna unpack the dramatic 14.4% surge in South Korea's EWY ETF over the past five trading days—and what it signals about a broader unwind of the yen carry trade. With the yen weakening past 160 per dollar and the Bank of Japan signaling policy tightening, hedge funds are scrambling to cover short yen positions, driving a sudden rally in Asian export stocks. They explore how this shift in...

Lucas and Luna break down the brewing trade confrontation between the U.S. and France over digital services taxes. With Donald Trump threatening 100 percent tariffs on French wine and France defending its tech tax as a fairness measure, the episode explores the stakes for European exporters, American tech giants, and the broader WTO framework. Using the latest trade balance data and the trade-weig...

Episode 52 of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna examine why India-focused ETFs like INDA and EWY have surged in June 2026, even as the strong dollar pressures emerging markets. They trace the flow: Western companies diversifying supply chains away from China, India's manufacturing PMI hitting a 16-year high, and how tariff uncertainty is accelerating the 'China-plus-one' strategy. The...

What does SpaceX's historic IPO have to do with international trade? More than you'd think. Lucas and Luna examine how the $2 trillion listing is shaking up trade finance, with banks scrambling to lend to space logistics startups and the US dollar strengthening as capital flows into US equities. They break down why the SpaceX IPO is effectively acting as a magnet for global capital, tightening cre...

Episode 50 of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo explores the surprising rally in emerging market ETFs, with EEM up 3.2% and EWZ jumping 4.2% in the last five days. Lucas and Luna break down what's driving the turnaround: the dollar's slight dip from its peak, China's stimulus hopes, and the Iran deal optimism that's lifting risk appetite. They also look at the laggards—like Vietnam—and ask whether th...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into why the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has surged past 35 in June 2026, even as the S&P 500 sits near all-time highs. They unpack the disconnect between calm headline indices and the chaos beneath the surface—driven by trade policy whiplash, the looming Iran deal uncertainty, and a strong dollar squeezing emerging market expo...

SpaceX just pulled off the biggest IPO in history, with shares popping 30% on debut and Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire. But this isn't just a space story—it's a global trade story. Lucas and Luna break down how SpaceX's $2 trillion market cap ripples across aerospace supply chains, reshapes satellite-based logistics tracking, and challenges traditional trade finance. They also d...

In today's episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the potential US-Iran deal reopening the Strait of Hormuz is already shifting trade dynamics. With oil prices falling on the news and emerging market ETFs like EWY surging 13.6% in a week, they unpack what a diplomatic breakthrough means for shipping costs, inflation, and supply chains. They also discuss why the US dollar remains strong at 120.1 on th...

Episode 46 of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna examine why Mexico's export machine is thriving in June 2026, even as the strong dollar crushes many emerging-market peers. They break down the competitive edge Mexico gains from its proximity to the U.S., its deep integration in North American supply chains, and the 'nearshoring' wave that accelerated under the USMCA. With the trade-wei...

Lucas and Luna explore how the strong U.S. dollar is squeezing emerging market exports in June 2026. They dive into the trade-weighted dollar index hitting 120.1, the yen sliding past 160 per dollar, and the ripple effects on countries like South Korea, where the EWY ETF surged 11 percent in a week. The hosts discuss why a strong dollar makes exports cheaper for America but creates debt repayment...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive deep into the mechanics of currency hedging and its impact on global trade. They analyze how the strong dollar is squeezing exporters from emerging markets, using Brazil and South Korea as case studies. The hosts discuss recent data showing the trade-weighted dollar index hitting 120.1, and how this affects everything from soyb...

Episode 43 of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo examines how the trade-weighted US dollar index at 120.1 is reshaping America's trade balance. Lucas and Luna dig into April 2026 trade deficit data ($55.9 billion, slightly improved from March) and explore why a strong dollar makes US exports pricier abroad while cheapening imports, creating a structural headwind for domestic manufacturing. They discus...

China's May wholesale inflation hit a near-four-year high, driven by Iran war costs and AI demand. Lucas and Luna unpack how this shifts the trade balance, why a 120-plus trade-weighted dollar squeezes emerging market exporters differently, and what it means for supply chain rerouting. They also touch on the SpaceX IPO and what retail allocation tells us about market confidence. No ads, just sharp...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna zoom in on a surprising casualty of the strong US dollar: Southeast Asian exporters. While much of the trade-war attention has been on China and South Korea, countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia are getting crushed as their currencies slide and foreign demand falters. Lucas unpacks the data: the Thai baht is down 8% year...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs, Lucas and Luna dive into the surprising 35% year-over-year jump in China's May shipments to the U.S., hitting a five-year high. They explore how a strong dollar, tariff loopholes, and rerouted supply chains are fueling this growth, despite ongoing trade tensions. The hosts break down the numbers: China's overall exports jumped 35% in May, the trade-weighted do...

Lucas and Luna break down the quiet logistics crisis unfolding at the Panama Canal and the Straits of Malacca. With the trade-weighted dollar still high and emerging market ETFs like EWY down 13.4% in five days, they explore how a single maritime chokepoint can ripple through supply chains. Lucas explains 'Chokepoint 36'—the narrow corridor where 36% of global trade passes—and why the recent droug...

South Korea's Kospi index plunged 7% on Monday, June 8, 2026, as foreign investors continue to dump Korean stocks despite a record rally earlier this year. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the numbers: the EWZ ETF dropped 19.2% in five days, and the trade-weighted dollar index sits at 118.9. They explore why capital is fleeing—from geopolitical risks tied to Iran-Israel tensions to struc...

This episode breaks down how the ongoing Iran conflict and the Hormuz closure are rerouting global oil flows, with OPEC+ approving a fourth output hike since the strait shut. Lucas and Luna examine what the 100-day mark means for tanker rates, insurance costs, and alternative supply chains via Iraq and Russia. They also discuss why Asian importers are scrambling and how the trade-weighted dollar's...

South Korea's main ETF, EWY, has plunged 19.2% in the past five trading days, far outpacing losses in other emerging markets. Lucas and Luna examine the specific forces behind this rout: the strong dollar, the collapse of Korea's semiconductor exports, and the broader implications for global supply chains and trade policy. They discuss how the trade-weighted dollar index near 119 is squeezing expo...

South Korea ETFs have plunged 19 percent in five days — the worst selloff among major emerging markets. Lucas and Luna unpack what's behind the crash: the strong dollar, semiconductor export exposure, and trade tensions with the US. They connect the EWY collapse to the broader market rotation out of tech-heavy markets, and ask whether this is a buying opportunity or a structural shift. Specific da...

Lucas and Luna examine how Taiwan's semiconductor exports are surging despite global trade tensions, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) leading the charge. They discuss the strategic importance of chip manufacturing, the impact of US tariffs on Chinese tech, and why Taiwan's export resilience is reshaping global supply chains. Data from June 2026 shows Taiwan's chip exports up...

Episode 33 of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna examine the brutal sell-off in South Korea ETFs — EWY down 16.4% in five days — as the strong dollar and shifting trade policy hammer export-driven markets. They explore the specific vulnerability of Korea's semiconductor sector, the role of currency hedging, and what the data says about broader emerging market risk. With the Nasdaq fall...