All posts by Supply Chain Expert

Gold doesn’t leap to records without a story. We unpack why $4,326 per troy ounce isn’t just about inflation, but about confidence shifting amid tariff threats, rare earth controls, and geopolitical strain. From China’s new export restrictions to a fragile 90‑day tariff window, we map how policy volatility is rewiring sourcing, inventory decisions, and the cost of capital across global supply chains. We dig into the headlines around AI in apparel manufacturing and separate signal from noise….

Tariffs, magnets, and malware collided this week—and the shockwaves tell a bigger story about where power lives in the global economy. We unpack how China’s sweeping rare earth export controls—and its command of magnet manufacturing—turn a handful of elements into leverage over EVs, wind turbines, smartphones, and defense systems. When the U.S. answers with 100% tariffs, markets flinch, currencies wobble, and procurement teams scramble to trace origin, redesign parts, and qualify new supplier…

When the financial infrastructure shifts, everything changes. Taiwan’s Cathay United Bank is quietly redrawing the map of Asian finance, following a dramatic pivot away from China. Once directing 84% of overseas investment to mainland China, Taiwan now sends just 11% there—a structural transformation that speaks volumes about where global trade is heading. This shift isn’t happening in isolation. Across the Pacific, Danish energy pioneer Ørsted finds its Revolution Wind Project—80% complete …

Politics and business collide as Trump makes unfounded claims about Tylenol causing autism while Jaguar Land Rover faces a devastating cyber attack costing £50 million weekly and threatening its entire supply chain network. • Trump administration announces FDA warning labels for Tylenol (paracetamol) linking it to autism despite scientific evidence contradicting this claim • Tesla’s UK profits drop 40% as average car prices fall by £7,000 amid broader European sales decline • Trump administr…

Tony Hines explores recent economic developments, technology partnerships, and significant supply chain disruptions affecting global business operations. • Bank of England keeps interest rates at 4% while US Federal Reserve makes surprising quarter-percent cut • President Trump’s UK visit secures £150 billion in investment commitments from companies including Blackstone, Microsoft, and Google • NVIDIA invests $5 billion in Intel, creating historic partnership to integrate technologies and st…

The global balance of power isn’t just about military might or economic sanctions—it’s increasingly about who controls the critical materials that power our modern world. China has masterfully positioned itself as the dominant force in rare earth elements, controlling 70% of mining and 90% of refining for these 17 elements essential to everything from smartphones to missile guidance systems. When faced with Trump’s tariffs, China responded not with matching broad strokes but with surgical pre…

Global markets are reeling from what can only be described as an economic tsunami, triggered by President Trump’s chaotic approach to trade tariffs. The ripple effects are now washing ashore everywhere from the United Kingdom to Japan, leaving financial destruction in their wake. The UK economy faces a staggering £41.2 billion deficit—significantly worse than the £30 billion previously projected—according to the National Institute for Economic and Social Research. With GDP growth slowing and…

Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed “Liberation Day” has unleashed a seismic shift in global trade, with new tariffs affecting 92 countries and reshaping economic relationships worldwide. What initially threatened as a uniform policy has evolved into a complex web of personalized trade barriers, with rates ranging from 10% for the UK to a punishing 50% for Brazil. The diplomatic chess game has been fascinating to witness. Ursula von der Leyen’s eleventh-hour visit to Turnberry secured the EU a 15…

Trump’s tariffs have unleashed chaos across global supply chains, forcing companies to make radical shifts in their production strategies almost overnight. Initially, tariffs were set at a staggering 145% on Chinese imports, these tariffs threatened to push iPhone prices to $3,000, add $5,000 to electric vehicle costs, and disrupt countless industries dependent on global manufacturing networks. The podcast explores how major players are responding with remarkable agility. Tesla is accelerati…

What guides your toughest decisions? Are you relying on gut instinct, careful analysis, or something in between? Decision making shapes everything from our breakfast choices to business strategies that impact millions. In this thought-provoking exploration, we examine the frameworks governing how we make choices that determine our paths. Beyond simple pros and cons lists, we dive into advanced techniques used by strategic thinkers: decision trees that map possibilities, Bayesian thinki…