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Mission Grey Daily Brief - November 11, 2024

Summary of the Global Situation for Businesses and Investors

The election of Donald Trump as the next US President has sent shockwaves through the global economy, with markets and businesses bracing for the impact of his policies. Trump's protectionist stance and threat of tariffs on imports from China and Europe have raised concerns about a potential trade war, with Asia and Ireland particularly exposed. Meanwhile, Taiwan welcomed Trump's victory, but analysts warn of potential risks to its relationship with the US and China.

Trump's Tariff Plan and the Global Economy

Donald Trump's election as the next US President has sent shockwaves through the global economy, with markets and businesses bracing for the impact of his policies. Trump has threatened tariffs of up to 60% on imports from China and 10-20% on imports from Europe, which could trigger a global trade war. Asia, which contributes the largest share of global growth, is particularly exposed, with production chains closely linked to China and significant investment from Beijing. Ireland, with its large exposure to the US market, is also vulnerable, as 75% of its goods exports to the US are chemical or pharma products produced by US multinationals operating in the country.

Taiwan's Relationship with the US and China

Taiwan has publicly hailed Trump's victory, but analysts warn of potential risks to its relationship with the US and China. Trump has suggested that Taiwan should pay the US for its defence and accused the island of stealing the US semiconductor industry. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has expressed confidence in continued US support, but analysts say that Trump's policy on Taiwan is highly uncertain. Taiwan could be caught in the middle of a trade war between the US and China, and any miscalculation by the Trump administration could be costly.

Indonesia's Trade Concerns

Indonesia's businesses are concerned about the impact of Trump's protectionist policies on their access to the US market and competition with Chinese producers. Chinese producers may reroute their goods to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, if they face similar barriers to the US market. Indonesia's exports to the US could also be affected by Trump's policies, as the US is the second-largest export market for Indonesian goods. Indonesia's government is considering actions to minimise the negative impact, including pushing for trade deals, diversifying export markets, and improving competitiveness.

Trump's Approach to the EU and UK

Trump is expected to target the EU over the UK in a potential trade war, as he wants to see a successful Brexit. Trump is likely to give a preferential trade deal to the UK, while tariffs will more greatly affect the EU than the UK. Trump believes in the special relationship between the US and the UK and wants to help with a successful Brexit. The UK chancellor is expected to promote free and open trade between nations as a cornerstone of UK economic policy, calling for continued partnerships with Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the US.


Further Reading:

Asia, the world's economic engine, prepares for Trump shock - Japan Today

Donald Trump’s victory in US election could be costly for Taiwan, analysts say - Hong Kong Free Press

Eoin Burke-Kennedy: Ireland’s €54bn exposure to Trump’s tariff plan - The Irish Times

Indonesia’s businesses fear deluge of Chinese goods after Trump takes office - asianews.network

Trump to target EU over UK in trade war as he wants to see ‘successful Brexit’, former staffer claims - The Independent

Trump told Putin not to escalate war in Ukraine days after the election, reports say - The Independent

Turkey Deports 325 Afghan Nationals In 48 Hours - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Themes around the World:

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Seguridad y controles al combustible

Medidas contra huachicol endurecieron controles y generaron desabasto de lubricantes/grasas, afectando plantas automotrices en Chihuahua, Coahuila, Aguascalientes y Guanajuato. Se suma a presiones arancelarias, elevando riesgo operativo, inventarios y costos logísticos.

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Maritime route rerouting and surcharges

Middle East conflict and lingering Red Sea insecurity are forcing carriers to suspend Gulf bookings and reroute around Cape of Good Hope. This adds 10–14 days transit time and lifts costs by roughly 30–50%, complicating Europe–Asia supply chains and inventory planning.

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Privatization and state-ownership reform

Government is updating the State Ownership Policy to integrate state entities into the budget, remove preferential treatment, and clarify commercial activities, alongside tax, customs and digital reforms. This can open acquisition/PPP opportunities, but timing, governance and execution risk remain material.

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Defense-industrial expansion and partnerships

Ukraine’s defense sector is scaling and partnering with EU/US firms, including joint ventures abroad and localized production. This creates opportunities in drones, electronics, and dual-use supply chains, while tightening export-control compliance and increasing targeting and cyber risks.

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Critical minerals geopolitics and partnerships

Brazil is positioning rare earths and other critical minerals as strategic, courting EU, US and India partnerships and funding. Opportunity is large but hinges on permitting, processing capacity, and geopolitical screening—impacting FDI, offtakes, technology transfer, and supply security planning.

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Enerji ithalatı şoku ve vergi ayarlamaları

Savaşın petrol fiyatlarını yükseltmesi Türkiye’nin enerji ithalat bağımlılığı nedeniyle cari açık ve üretim maliyetlerini artırıyor. Hükümet akaryakıtta ÖTV “eşel mobil” benzeri kaydırma sistemini geçici devreye aldı. Sanayi, lojistik ve bütçe dinamikleri etkilenir.

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Customs reform raises compliance costs

Mexico’s customs reform increases joint liability for customs brokers, driving higher fees and stricter documentation requests to prove client substance and correct classifications. Mandatory digital uploads for trade data force process and IT investments, slowing onboarding and increasing risk for “sensitive” goods.

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Energy security amid Middle East volatility

Middle East conflict-driven volatility is pushing Korea to diversify LNG security via swaps and regional coordination. Import-dependent manufacturers face fuel and electricity-cost swings, affecting chemical, steel, and semiconductor operations, and increasing hedging and inventory requirements.

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Hormuz chokepoint and war-risk

Escalating conflict has threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route for ~20 million bpd—around one-fifth of global oil consumption. Tanker traffic disruptions, record freight rates, and shrinking war-risk insurance raise costs and delay imports/exports across Asia-linked supply chains.

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AI chip export “rationing”

Washington is considering a new AI‑chip export framework that ties large shipments (100,000–200,000+ chips) to government assurances, monitoring, and even site visits, potentially swapping controls for foreign investment in US data centers. Allies’ procurement timelines and compliance burdens would rise.

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Tech export controls and retaliation

US controls on advanced semiconductors and equipment continue to tighten, while China signals countermeasures affecting imports and approvals. Stop-start licensing for AI chips increases forecasting risk, forces redesigns, and pushes multinationals to reroute R&D and sourcing away from China.

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Sanctions volatility reshaping energy trade

OFAC issued short-term licenses allowing delivery of Russian oil already at sea to stabilize markets amid Middle East disruptions, alongside broader enforcement pressure. Energy traders, shippers and insurers face rapidly shifting compliance, freight rates and counterparty risk across routes and hubs.

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Energy trade reorientation to Asia

Russia continues redirecting crude and products to Asian buyers, with India and China absorbing volumes amid shifting discounts and waivers. Buyers gain bargaining power intermittently, while sellers benefit during global shocks, creating price and contract volatility for refiners and traders.

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FX instability and import constraints

Sanctions and limited banking access strain hard-currency availability, driving rial volatility and complicating letters of credit, repatriation, and supplier payments. Importers face higher working-capital needs, sporadic shortages of inputs and spare parts, and increased reliance on intermediaries and barter-like structures.

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Volatilidade macro e trajetória da Selic

Projeções de mercado indicam IPCA 2026 em 3,91% e Selic no fim de 2026 em 12,13%, com câmbio projetado a R$5,45. Juros ainda elevados encarecem capital e hedge, enquanto desaceleração/queda abre janelas para M&A e financiamento de cadeias produtivas.

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Macro risk: oil shock and rates

Middle East conflict-driven oil spikes threaten South Africa’s inflation and demand outlook. Fuel is projected to rise about R4/l for petrol and R7/l for diesel from 1 April, raising transport costs across supply chains. The SARB is likely to delay rate cuts, tightening financing conditions and FX volatility.

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Nuclear standoff and deal volatility

IAEA reports warn limited inspector access and unresolved questions around enrichment and stockpiles (including ~440.9 kg at 60% purity). Negotiations with the U.S. swing between sanctions relief prospects and renewed military risk, creating whiplash for investment planning, licensing, and long-cycle projects.

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Renewables trade friction, re-routing

US Commerce set preliminary countervailing duties around 125.87% on India-origin solar cells, disrupting a fast-growing export channel. Firms may pivot to using imported cells for India assembly or redirect volumes, reshaping sourcing, margins and project timelines.

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Port volumes and supply-chain whiplash

Post-tariff frontloading is giving way to softer 2026 port starts; LA/Long Beach reported double-digit January import declines amid shifting tariff expectations and refund uncertainty. Businesses should anticipate stop-start ordering cycles, episodic congestion, and volatile drayage/rail capacity and rates.

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Russia sanctions enforcement and energy shock

France backs maintaining pressure on Russia even amid Middle East-driven oil disruptions and US waivers. Businesses face evolving sanctions compliance, tighter scrutiny of shipping and “shadow fleet” trade, and heightened energy and fertilizer price volatility affecting transport and input costs.

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Fiscal volatility and ad‑hoc taxes

Emergency measures—such as a temporary 12% crude export levy and fuel-tax cuts—underscore election-year fiscal volatility. Sudden tax changes can hit margins, pricing, and contract stability for energy, logistics, and consumer sectors, complicating investment underwriting.

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Fiscal-rule revision and BI autonomy

Proposed revisions to the State Finance Law raise investor concerns about loosening the 3% deficit cap and weakening Bank Indonesia independence. Fitch’s negative outlook, bond outflows, and rupiah pressure elevate funding costs, FX risk, and policy uncertainty for long-horizon projects.

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Sanctions enforcement and maritime risk

U.S. sanctions and enforcement pressure on Russia, Iran, and evasion networks increases compliance burdens across shipping, insurance, commodities, and finance. Firms must strengthen screening for “dark fleet” activity, origin documentation, and contractual protections against secondary-risk exposure.

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Transnet logistics bottlenecks and reform

Transnet’s rail/port constraints, high debt (~R144bn) and locomotive shortfalls keep export corridors volatile. While PPPs and corridor upgrades (e.g., coal/iron-ore) progress, congestion, vandalism and maintenance backlogs elevate shipping delays, costs, and inventory buffers.

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Post-Brexit border checks gaps

MPs warn post‑Brexit sanitary checks are being bypassed: “drive‑bys” of flagged meat/dairy consignments rose to 18% in Nov 2025 from 8% in Aug. Weak enforcement raises disease and fraud risks, potentially triggering tougher inspections, delays and higher logistics costs.

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Energy security and LNG exposure

Middle East disruptions highlighted Taiwan’s limited gas storage (~11 days) and reliance on LNG, including Qatar (~about one‑third). Government is diversifying—e.g., a ~25‑year Cheniere deal and targeting US LNG share ~15–20% by 2029—yet power-price volatility remains.

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Freight logistics bottlenecks and reform

Transnet’s high debt and equipment failures keep rail volumes below targets, constraining bulk exports. However, reforms—private rail access, Durban pier concessions, and new terminals like Ngqura manganese—can improve throughput, reduce demurrage, and reshape supply-chain routing decisions.

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Procurement access tied to regional HQ

Saudi Arabia has relaxed its rule barring government contracts for firms without a regional headquarters, allowing exceptions via the Etimad platform to protect project delivery. This opens near-term tender access, but compliance, pricing thresholds, and localization expectations still shape bid competitiveness and operating models.

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Judicial uncertainty in agribusiness ESG

The Supreme Court is reviewing litigation around the Soy Moratorium, suspending related proceedings to reduce legal turmoil. Outcomes affect soy sourcing, deforestation-linked compliance, tax incentives, and buyer requirements—material for traders, food companies, and lenders exposed to ESG risks.

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Judicial reform and contract enforceability

Ongoing judicial overhaul debates elevate perceived rule-of-law and dispute-resolution risk for investors. Concerns about court independence and procedural changes can affect contract enforcement, regulatory challenges, and M&A confidence, increasing the value of arbitration clauses and stronger counterparty diligence.

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Fuel price shock, policy intervention

Vietnam scrapped import tariffs on gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and kerosene until end-April after domestic fuel prices rose 21–32% and diesel surged 50%+. Firms should expect volatility in transport and production costs, tighter enforcement against hoarding, and faster pass-through of global oil movements into local pricing.

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Trade diversification push beyond U.S.

With U.S. tariff volatility, the Carney government is explicitly targeting major expansion of non-U.S. exports over the next decade. Expect more outbound diplomacy and infrastructure debate to access Asian and European markets—creating opportunities in logistics, port capacity, and export finance.

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Investment surge in digital infrastructure

BOI-backed projects in data centres and digital platforms are accelerating, including TikTok’s 270bn baht plan and 2025 data-centre applications of 728bn baht. Tighter localisation, energy and water rules raise compliance needs but deepen Thailand’s role in regional digital supply chains.

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Sanctions compliance and banking normalization

The U.S. deferred-prosecution deal to end the Halkbank Iran-sanctions case lowers tail risk, but reinforces stricter AML/sanctions controls, monitoring and correspondent-banking scrutiny. Firms should expect tougher KYC, payment screening and documentation requirements for sensitive counterparties and routes.

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BOJ normalization and stronger yen

Bank of Japan policy normalization is narrowing yield differentials and undermining yen carry trades, supporting a firmer currency. A stronger yen affects exporters’ earnings translation, import costs, and hedging strategies, influencing pricing, capital allocation, and Japan-based manufacturing competitiveness.

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Deflation, weak demand, overcapacity

China’s low CPI (around 0.2% y/y) and ongoing PPI deflation reflect soft domestic demand and persistent industrial overcapacity. Multinationals face margin pressure, aggressive price competition, and greater reliance on exports, raising trade friction and volatility in global pricing.