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

Lucas and Luna break down the latest US trade deficit numbers, which hit a new record in March 2026 at $60.3 billion. They explore the structural forces behind the widening gap—from a strong dollar to shifting supply chains—and what it means for global trade policy. The episode zooms in on the post-COVID import binge, the role of the trade-weighted dollar index, and the surprising resilience of ex...

Lucas and Luna explore how rerouted shipping lanes are redrawing the map of global commerce. With the Panama Canal facing drought restrictions and Red Sea tensions persisting, container ships are taking longer paths—adding days and dollars to supply chains. They break down the specific cost impact on shippers and importers, and what the shift means for inflation and trade policy in mid-2026. Featu...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the quiet but massive rerouting of global supply chains away from China and toward Southeast Asia and Mexico. With new tariff waves targeting 60 economies and the trade-weighted dollar still near 119, companies are accelerating 'friend-shoring' strategies. Lucas breaks down why Vietnam's exports to the US surged 24% year-over-year in 2025, while Mexico overt...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine how India's new tariff regime is transforming the global pharmaceutical supply chain. With reference to the latest trade balance data showing a widening US deficit and a slight dollar softening, they discuss why India is raising tariffs on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) while courting Western pharma companies to set up manufacturing. The hosts expl...

On June 3, 2026, the U.S. proposed fresh tariffs on 60 economies over forced labor trade practices. Lucas and Luna break down what this means for global supply chains, emerging markets, and the companies most exposed. They examine the specific trigger, the likely targets, and how markets are reacting—with the S&P 500 hitting 7,610 and the South Korea ETF surging 8.2% in five days. The episode also...

Episode 27 of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo takes a deep dive into Vietnam's rise as a manufacturing hub amid US-China tensions. Lucas and Luna break down the 20% surge in Vietnam's exports to the US year-over-year, the $127 billion bilateral trade deficit that has Washington paying attention, and the looming threat of tariffs. They discuss how Vietnam is navigating its role as a supply chain alt...

On June 2, 2026, the Trump administration proposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian goods, citing unfair trade practices. Lucas and Luna break down the specific sectors at risk—from steel to agriculture—and what this means for emerging market investors. With Brazil's EWZ ETF down 2.2% in a week and the US trade deficit widening to $60.3 billion, this episode drills into one concrete trade conflict and it...

Lucas and Luna break down the mechanics of currency hedging in international trade, using the recent surge in South Korea's KOSPI and the strong US dollar as a real-world case study. They explain how exporters like Samsung and Hyundai protect profits when the won weakens, why small importers get crushed without hedges, and what the trade-weighted dollar index at 119.3 means for global supply chain...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna unpack the surprising twist in global trade: the US dollar remains strong at 119.3 on the trade-weighted index, yet emerging market ETFs like South Korea's EWY and Taiwan's EWT are surging 13% and 6% respectively in the last week. They explore why a strong dollar isn't crushing all exporters equally, focusing on the divergence betwe...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the growing divergence in emerging markets as the US dollar strengthens. With the trade-weighted dollar index at 119.3, countries like South Korea and Taiwan are thriving while Brazil and China struggle. Lucas explains how the dollar's strength reshapes global trade flows, squeezing commodity exporters but benefiting tech-...

Lucas and Luna dive into how the trade-weighted US dollar index at 119.3 is creating winners and losers across emerging markets. They break down why South Korea's EWY is up over 13% in the last five days while China's FXI and Brazil's EWZ are sliding. The conversation explores the mechanics of currency divergence, the impact on exports, and what it means for investors. With the yen at 159 to the d...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna drill into a striking divergence in emerging markets: South Korea's EWY is up 13.1% in five days, Taiwan's EWT is up 6.1%, while China's FXI is down 1.3% and Brazil's EWZ is down 1.3%. The catalyst? A weakening dollar, which has dropped from 119.4 to 119.3 on the trade-weighted index, and a yen that hit 159 per dollar. The hosts tra...

Mexico's peso has been one of the best-performing emerging-market currencies this year, even as the US dollar remains elevated. Lucas and Luna dig into why: nearshoring flows, a hawkish central bank, and a current-account surplus that broke a decades-old pattern. They also look at what happens next if US tariffs on Mexican goods escalate — and why the peso's strength may not last forever. Specific...

On May 29, 2026, South Korea's EWY ETF is up 13% in five days while China's FXI is down 0.9%, and Taiwan's EWT is up 6.1%. Lucas and Luna dig into the trade mechanics behind the divergence: currency effects, semiconductor supply chains, and the reshoring wave. They look at the won's weakness, Korea's memory chip dominance, and why Taiwan is benefiting from AI demand. The hosts also tie in the stro...

While emerging market currencies like the yen and yuan struggle, the Mexican peso is defying gravity in late May 2026. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the three structural factors keeping the peso resilient: nearshoring flows from US companies, Banxico's disciplined rate policy, and Mexico's current account surplus. They cite the recent CNBC data showing the peso at 16.5 per dollar, com...

South Korea's EWY ETF surged 10.7% over the past five days while Brazil's EWZ fell 1.7%. Lucas and Luna unpack why — semiconductor exports, currency strength, and political risk divergence drive the split. They also discuss how the strong yen and weak yuan are reshaping trade flows in Asia, and why Brazil's commodity cycle is turning. Plus: a natural tie-in to listener support for ad-free economic...

This episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo examines the dramatic divergence in emerging market ETFs as of late May 2026. Lucas and Luna break down the numbers: the Korea ETF EWY is up 10 percent in five days, Taiwan's EWT is up 12 percent, while China's FXI has dropped 2.5 percent. They trace the divergence to structural shifts in trade and manufacturing—South Korea and Taiwan's dominance in s...

This episode examines the growing divergence between a handful of export-driven Asian economies (Taiwan, South Korea) and the broader emerging-market universe. The ETF numbers tell the story: EWY (South Korea) is up 8.8% in a week, EWT (Taiwan) up 11.8%, while the broad EM ETF EEM is up just 4.2% and China's FXI is down 2.6%. Lucas and Luna unpack the structural differences: who benefits from the...

In this episode of Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna examine how South Korea's semiconductor exports have turned the country into a trade powerhouse. With SK Hynix hitting a $1 trillion valuation in May 2026 and the EWY ETF surging over 15% in a single week, they drill into what's driving Korea's export boom and what it means for global supply chains. The hosts unpack the role of AI d...

South Korean stocks, tracked by the EWY ETF, surged over 14% in a single week this May. Lucas and Luna break down the specific drivers: a weak won, surging semiconductor exports led by Samsung and SK Hynix, and the 'Korea Discount' narrative that's finally shifting. They explore why the Korean market is outpacing other emerging markets and what it means for global supply chains and investors. With...

Taiwan's semiconductor exports hit a record in April 2026, even as China's overall trade slows and geopolitical risks in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran escalate. Lucas and Luna drill into why Taiwan's chip industry has become indispensable to global supply chains—and why investors are piling into Taiwan ETFs like EWT, which surged 5.5% in the past week. They explore the structural advantages: the c...

With China's exports slowing and the yuan weakening, Taiwan and South Korea are emerging as the real winners in Asian trade. Lucas and Luna examine the data behind the divergence: South Korea's semiconductor-led export boom, Taiwan's resilience amid geopolitical tension, and China's struggle with deflation and overcapacity. They also discuss what the trade-weighted dollar index at 119.3 means for...

The trade-weighted US dollar index hit 119.3 on May 15, 2026, and that strength is crushing export-dependent economies in emerging Asia. Lucas and Luna examine why Taiwan's semiconductor exports are surging while its smaller neighbors struggle, and how the strong dollar is reshaping trade flows. They dig into the divergence between India and Indonesia, and explain why the 'export-led growth' model...

Taiwan and South Korea are booming — up 5.5 percent and 3.4 percent in the last week alone — while China ETFs slide. Lucas and Luna drill into the 'factory divergence' reshaping Asia: why Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia are absorbing supply chains that once fed China, and what a strong dollar and rising yen mean for the realignment. Plus a look at the numbers: exports hit a record $3.5 trillion,...

With oil tankers idling off the coast of Iran and the White House hinting at a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Lucas and Luna examine the real trade exposure for American consumers. They walk through the numbers: US imports of crude from the Persian Gulf, the impact of higher shipping costs on the goods you buy, and how the dollar's recent strength is both a shield and a risk. Plus, why the p...