Trade Splaining
A fun and entertaining look at global affairs, trade and the United Nations, brought to you from the perspective of two American expats living in Switzerland. They try to keep a straight face while recapping the latest in current events and the local scene in Geneva, Switzerland as well as interviews with fellow expats on the international scene and leaders in their respective fields.
Episodes

Thursday Aug 31, 2023
China’s Lagging Growth, Digital Trade and Slowing Auto Industry Demand
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
On Episode 52:
👉 Looking at how slumping demand in China may to be dragging down global trade
👉 Why the days of tax free Digital Trade may be slowly coming to an end
👉 Why auto industry sales may be the canary in the coal mine for global growth
Joining Ardian Mollabeciri and Robert Skidmore this episode is Ann-Kathrin Zotz and Caroline Foerster of White Label Project, to talk about sustainable fashion and sustainable trade, whether upcoming EU regulation affects businesses likes theirs...and fashion advice for me and Rob.
Huge thanks as always to executive producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger and editor-in-chief Valentina Saponara in what may be her last episode with Trade Splaining.
#trade #globalization #WTO #US #china #eu #sustainablefashion #IRA #chipsact #brexit #carbonneutral #carbonreduction #sustainability #ai #climatechange #supplychain #tariffs #exportbans #listenresponsibly #wto #geneva

Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Climate Change, War, AI & the Hollywood Writers Strike
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
#TradeSplaining is back with a new episode!
Listen wherever you get you podcasts :http://ibit.ly/uJzpT
👉 Looking at how Climate Change, AI and War are Changing trade in ways that are increasingly visible
👉 How the Hollywood writers strike marks a new chapter when talking about technology and labor
👉 More animal stories in Switzerland: this time attack of the cows
Joining Ardian Mollabeciri and Rob Skidmore this episode is André Schneider, CEO of Geneva Airport, to talk about why we need a nuanced discussion around decarbonizing air travel, the impacts as well as talking about his unique and varied career so far.
Huge thanks as always to executive producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger and editor-in-chief Valentina Saponara.
#trade #globalization #WTO #US #china #eu #IRA #chipsact #brexit #carbonneutral #carbonreduction #sustainability #ai #climatechange #supplychain #tariffs #exportbans #listenresponsibly #wto #geneva #airport

Thursday Jul 20, 2023
China’s Turn in the Trade War, De-Risking and Wageflation ft. Arancha González Laya
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
On this special milestone episode, hosts Ardian Mollabeciri and Robert Skidmore are joined by Arancha Gonzalez, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po for former Foreign Minister of Spain, for an even more special in person interview to discuss what it will take to make multilateralism work, what a more realistic EU policy toward China would look like... and her favorite food in Geneva (HINT: not kebabs)
They also look at how security interests continue to drive inefficient trade policy between China, the United States and the rest of the West, how more Western companies are siloing parts of their businesses in China as they try to lower risks from tensions between Washington and Beijing, the rise of Wageflation and try to unpack what it all means.
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is taking a break this episode from giving her thoughts on the end of globalization but will be back next episode.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!
#trade #globalization #WTO #US #china #eu #Microchips #Chips #IRA #CHIPSACT #ArtificialIntelligence #derisking #greedflation #wageflation #AI #africa #lithium #greentransition #ExportControls #inflation #inflationreductionact #foodcrisis #tradewar #bigtech #tech #supplychain #unions #tariffs #exportbans #supplychains #tradesplaining #wto #podcast #covid #podcasting #podcast #globalization #eu #chatgpt #business #sustainability

Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
On this episode, hosts Ardian Mollabeciri and Robert Skidmore are joined by Chris Miller, Associate Professor of International History at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Jeane Kirkpatrick Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and author of "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology" to discuss the decades-long battle to control what has emerged as the world's most critical resource—microchip technology—with the United States and China increasingly in conflict, what it might mean for the future of trade and why chips really are once again the new oil (yes, really).
They also look at how climate change might finally start to alter consumption and trade patterns as well as the perfect storm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and demographics start to collide - and what it might mean for societies going forward.
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is taking a break this episode from giving her thoughts on the end of globalization but will be back next episode.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!
#trade #globalization #WTO #US #china #eu #Microchips #Chips #IRA #CHIPSACT #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #africa #lithium #greentransition #ExportControls #inflation #inflationreductionact #foodcrisis #tradewar #bigtech #tech #supplychain #unions #tariffs #exportbans #supplychains #tradesplaining #wto #podcast #covid #podcasting #podcast #globalization #eu #chatgpt #business #sustainability

Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
On this episode, hosts Ardian Mollabeciri and Robert Skidmore are joined by Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Executive Director at the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) at the World Trade Organization (WTO), to discuss the rationale behind promoting trade for least developed countries, and veggie kebabs.
They also look at warnings about commercial real estate prices (there's a trade angle in there we promise), changing luxury trends and how climate change is affecting supply chains,
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is also back to give her thoughts on the vibe shift happening right under Boomers and Gen X's noses.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!
#trade #globalization #WTO #US #china #eu #IRA #creditsuisse #ubs #alibaba #antitrust #africa #lithium #greentransition #ExportControls #inflation #inflationreductionact #foodcrisis #tradewar #bigtech #tech #supplychain #unions #bloomberg #tariffs #exportbans #supplychains #tradesplaining #wto #podcast #covid #podcasting #podcast #shipping #maersk #msc #globalization #eu #chatgpt #business #humanrights #sustainability

Thursday Apr 27, 2023
An Ever Worsening Global Outlook, China & Brazil, and Market Access is Still a Thing
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
On this episode, we're joined by Kent Wilska, Director of the Sustainable Trade Unit at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, to discuss what a Sustainable Trade Unit does, why Finland has one...and why hot water is a key criteria for living in Scandinavia
We also look at more warnings about the global economic outlook - this time from the IMF, China, Belt and Road and why Market Access might matter more when it comes to negotiating trade deals.
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is also back to give her thoughts on the vibe shift happening right under Boomers and Gen X's noses.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!

Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Credit Suisse, a Renewed Focus on Africa & Tariffs Are Still Bad (apparently)
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
On this episode, we're joined by Iana Dreyer, Founder and Editor of Borderlex, to discuss the state of EU and US trade relations, where we go from here and also...why pizza > kebab
We also touch base on the fallout from Credit Suisse collapse, the renewed focus on the African continent as the race for raw materials fueling the green transition hits another gear and what Ardi and Gwyneth Paltrow have in common (HINT:Skiing accidents and Bone Broth)
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is also back to give her thoughts on the vibe shift happening right under Boomers and Gen X's noses.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!

Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Emerging India, SVB, & Human Rights Still in the Spotlight
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
On this episode, we're joined once again by Professor Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, Director of the University of Geneva and NYU Stern Center's for Business and Human Rights to discuss the state of play for business and human rights work post-Covid and what it meant for developing countries.
We also touch base on the latest on India's continued emergence on the global economic and geo-political scene, the SVB Bank collapse as well as the Oscars recap, the latest on the tree situation in Geneva and more!
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is also back to give her thoughts on the vibe shift happening right under Boomers and Gen X's noses.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!

Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
China, Supply Chains, The World Bank & Climate Change
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
On this episode, we're joined once again by Jan Hoffmann, Chief - Trade Logistics Branch at UNCTAD, to discuss the state of play for the shipping industry post-Covid, what it's meant for developing countries and what trends to look out for as we get deeper into 2023?
We also touch base on the latest is the gradual escalation of economic tensions between China and the United States, changing of the guard at the World Bank and more!
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is also back to give her thoughts on the vibe shift happening right under Boomers and Gen X's noses.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!

Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Nearshoring, Green Subsidies & ChatGPT
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
On this episode of Trade Splaining, hosts Ardian Mollabeciri and Robert Skidmore are joined by Richard Baldwin, author and Professor of International Economics at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland joins Trade Splaining once again to discuss how what advances in AI like ChatGPT mean for his past predictions on the future of work and international trade, his takeaways from Davos and more.
Ardian and Rob also touch base on the state of export controls and green subsidies as well as the state of play at the WTO...and snow-shoe-ing
TS producer Michelle Olguin Fluckliger is also back to give her thoughts on the vibe shift happening right under Boomers and Gen X's noses.
Also big thanks as usual to Valentina Saponara for helping produce this episode!