Trade Splaining

In Episode 90 of Trade Splaining, Ardian Mollabeqiri and Robert Skidmore are back to unpack how geopolitics, energy markets and global shipping disruptions are finding their way into the everyday economy — from oil prices and port congestion to pain au chocolat, ice cream cones and Aperol Spritzes. We start with the Strait of Hormuz, where fears of an oil price shock ran into a more complicated re...

Episode 89 - Trade Finds a Way, But Your Parcel Might Not: Global Express Association's Carlos Grau on Customs, De Minimis & Global Delivery Trade has a funny way of showing up in your life. Sometimes it is tariffs, oil prices and semiconductor supply chains. Other times, it is your package sitting at the border while someone tries to decide whether “gift” and “zero value” is a legally persuas...

Episode 88: Hormuz Oil Shock, Airfares and the Future of Flying - IATA’s Chief Economist on the New Energy Crisis Oil shocks used to feel like something that happened in markets, headlines and awkward economist panels. Not anymore. In this episode of Trade Splaining, we look at how the latest energy shock is moving from oil markets into the parts of the economy people actually feel - airfares, air...

Episode 87 - USMCA Uncertainty, Trade Fragmentation & the Future of Supply Chains Global trade is shifting - and not everyone agrees on where it’s heading. In this episode, we break down the growing uncertainty around USMCA, the rise of trade fragmentation, and what it means when the system moves away from efficiency toward resilience. We also sit down with Will Petty, Global Head of Product D...

Episode 86 – Is the WTO Still Relevant? MC14, Trade Chaos & a Surprisingly Resilient System | Peter Foster (FT) 🎧 Listen: t.ly/K4Jnc Has the global trading system fundamentally broken — or is it proving more resilient than expected? In Episode 86 of Trade Splaining, we sit down with Peter Foster, World Trade Editor at the Financial Times, to unpack the real outcomes of WTO Ministerial Confere...

Episode 85 – Tariffs Struck Down… Then Came Back + Middle East Conflict Threatens Food Prices Have tariffs really been rolled back — or just repackaged under a different legal label? In Episode 85 of Trade Splaining, we unpack the fallout from the US Supreme Court ruling on tariffs — and why, despite the headlines, not much may have actually changed. We then turn to a fast-moving and underreported...

Episode 84 is here — and yes, 84 is the atomic number of polonium, 1984 is Orwellian, and Van Halen absolutely peaked. You’re welcome. We’re joined again by friend of the pod Dmitry Grozoubinski, Executive Director of the Geneva Trade Platform and author of Why Politicians Lie About Trade. And we ask the big question: 👉 Has the global trading system fundamentally changed — or are we just living t...

Is everything national security now? In Episode 83 of Trade Splaining, Ardi & Rob kick off 2026 by diving head-first into the growing chaos at the intersection of trade policy, geopolitics, and national security exceptions — the legal loophole that ate the global trading system. We break down why trade is no longer just about efficiency or tariffs, but increasingly about power, leverage, and s...

In Episode 82 of Trade Splaining, Ardian Mollabeqiri and Robert Skidmore close out the year with an end-of-year global trade reality check. This episode covers: Why Europe’s energy transition is starting to hit household wallets China’s overcapacity problem — from electric vehicles to tomato paste Why tariffs are proving inflationary (again) and failing to cut trade deficits How supply chains keep...

Trade Splaining is back! After a summer break (and one new baby later), Ardi and Rob return to make sense of what’s changed — and what hasn’t — in global trade, business, and expat life. From the latest round of tariffs and China’s “pivot” away from developing-country status at the WTO, to why AI might be the next big trade disruptor, we break down the stories shaping the global economy in 2025. W...

In Episode 80 of Trade Splaining, we’re pulling back the curtain on everything from secret sausage wars to how Apple helped build modern China. Along the way, we break down the increasingly blurry line between trade policy and geopolitics, why AI is now after your desk job, and how sober tailgates and millennial nostalgia are the new macro indicators. Special Guest: Patrick McGee, FT journalist an...

Description: In Episode 79 of Trade Splaining, Rob and Ardian dive deep into the surprising relevance of decarbonizing global shipping, why GDP might not be the best metric anymore, and how the EU and UK are slowly making Brexit... not a thing. We also ask: is multilateralism really dead—or just resting? 💡 What You'll Hear in This Episode: Circular Reasoning (with actual logic): Guest Eva-Maria B...

In Episode 78 of Trade Splaining, hosts Rob and Ardi explore the complex impact of tariffs on global trade, the humorous yet insightful nature of episode 78, and unique trade issues around the world. Guest Lars Karlsson from Maersk discusses how both small and large companies are navigating the new trade realities. The episode also covers topical issues such as the pistachio shortage, the impact o...

Episode 77: China’s China Shock & Tariff Reality Check ft. Peter S. Goodman Episode Summary: In Episode 77 of Trade Splaining, we dig into China’s very own “China Shock,” why Budweiser is going budget in Shanghai, and how the global economy might be looking a lot more like... China’s. Plus, New York Times journalist Peter S. Goodman returns for his third appearance to discuss how the ground-le...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Trade Splaining, we unpack the latest twists in the Green Transition—spoiler alert: China’s winning. We also explore how chaos is reshaping global trade, why Manchester United’s new stadium might cost a fortune (hint: tariffs), and the Swiss government's crackdown on... cheap meat? Our guest, Professor Joost Pauwelyn, joins us to break down 21st-century customs...

Episode 75: Tariffs, Work From Home & Beaver Hunting? Episode Summary: In this episode of Tradesplaining, Rob and Ardi tackle tariffs, Gen Z’s middle management crisis, and the work-from-home debate. As Trump’s economic policies continue reshaping global trade, we look at the real-world impact of escalating tariffs, Canada and Mexico’s shifting strategies, and how businesses are struggling to...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Trade Splaining, hosts Rob and Ardi dive into the latest on tariffs, AI disruptions, and surprising tourism trends. We break down the new wave of tariffs, their impact on global trade, and what they signal for U.S. economic strategy. Plus, we explore China’s DeepSeek AI breakthrough, the EU’s struggle to stay competitive, and Switzerland’s unexpected move to exp...

Welcome to Trade Splaining, the podcast that makes sense of international trade, business, and expat life without putting you to sleep! In our first episode of 2025, Rob and Ardi dive into a new year of trade predictions, global trends, and some surprising insights about life, business, and...sausages? In This Episode: 2025 Trade Predictions: What’s in store for global trade and why tariffs, insur...

Episode 72: Predicting Economic Trends, Indigenous Art, and the Revival of Mercantilism In this week’s episode of Trade Splaining, Rob and Ardian explore the latest quirks and complexities of global trade and economics, with a special focus on cultural preservation. 🎙️ What You’ll Hear: 💄 Lipstick Economics: How luxury consumer trends hint at economic uncertainty. 🌍 Mercantilism Returns: Why nat...

Episode 71: Tarantulas, Tariffs, and Trade Wars: Ambassador Maria Pagan on Global Trade’s Future In this week’s episode of Tradesplaining, Rob and Ardi tackle the unexpected, the essential, and the downright quirky in global trade and policy. Joined by Ambassador Maria Pagan, U.S. representative to the WTO, this episode offers insights and plenty of laughs as they explore: 🎙️ What’s Inside: Tarant...

Episode 70: Diverging Paths, Turkey’s BRICS Aspirations, and Narratives on Globalization ft. Nicholas Lamp Welcome to Episode 70 of Trade Splaining! In this episode, Rob and Ardi are joined by Nicholas Lamp, Associate Professor at Queen’s University, to discuss diverging economic approaches, shifting trade narratives, and some unexpected trends. Key Topics Covered: US vs. EU Economic Divergence: A...

Welcome to Trade Splaining Episode 69! In this episode, hosts Rob and Ardian are joined by Ambassador Maria Pagan, U.S. representative to the WTO, to discuss a wide range of timely topics in global trade. Key Topics Covered: Re-Globalization: What does the post-pandemic world look like? We explore how trade rules must evolve to meet the needs of 2024 and beyond. China’s Economic Stimulus: As China...

Episode 68 – Trade, National Security, and the WTO Walk Into a Bar Welcome to Trade Splaining – the podcast that makes sense of international trade, business, and expat life... without putting you to sleep. In this special WTO Public Forum edition, your hosts, Rob and Ardian, dive deep into national security, global trade, and even kebabs. Episode 68 brings a lively discussion with special guests...

Episode 67: Cheese Wars, Coal's Comeback, and Strava Jockeys (It’s a thing) Welcome to Episode 67 of Tradesplaining! In this episode, hosts Rob and Ardian dive into some of the most intriguing and unexpected topics in international trade, business, and expat life. Here’s what’s on the agenda: - The Cheese War: Explore the brewing conflict over cheese consumption guidelines. With the U.S. FDA recom...

Tradesplaining Podcast Episode 66: More EU Regulations, Shifting Summer Tourism and Uncovering Why Politicians Lie About Trade with author Dimitry Grozoubinski --- Episode Summary Welcome to Episode 66 of the Tradesplaining podcast! In this episode, hosts Rob and Ardi dive into the complexities of international trade, explore shifting tourism trends, and discuss why luxury watches may not be the i...