Can regional alliances save global trade?

ODI | Think Change

Trade policies are more than economic levers. Today they are instruments of influence, competition and – at times – conflict.

We have seen how Trump’s recent tariff hikes on Mexico, Canada and China have heightened geopolitical tensions.

The global trade system is also undergoing a deeper transformation. Countries are diversifying supply chains and rethinking alliances. Regional trade agreements are gaining momentum. Take the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is vital for strengthening Africa’s resilience.

This episode takes stock of this changing global trade landscape. What direction is it heading? Are we on the brink of a new era of economic fragmentation, or can innovative trade mechanisms and agreements provide stability?

Guests

• Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI Global
  Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre.
• Teddy Soobramanien, Chief Executive Officer, COMESA Business Council
• Jodie Keane, Senior Research Fellow, ODI Global
  

Related resources

• US implements sweeping reciprocal tariffs, igniting global economic challenges (Insight, ODI Global)
  
• Responding to Trump’s tariffs: the EU needs a new trade weapon to protect its economic security (Insight, ODI Global)
  
• Supporting Investment and Trade in Africa (Project, ODI Global)
  
• Implementing the Digital Trade Protocol of the African Continental Free Trade Area: expected impacts, early experiences and challenges ahead (Publication, ODI Global)
  
• Remaking global trade: how does the UK measure up to the Villars Framework? (Insight, ODI Global)