Mission Grey Daily Brief - January 25, 2025
Summary of the Global Situation for Businesses and Investors
The world is facing a number of significant geopolitical and economic challenges. Donald Trump's attempt to buy Greenland has sparked debate and raised concerns about the future of the territory. Meanwhile, Trump's tariff threats against Canada and Mexico have caused fear of a potential trade war and economic damage to these countries. In West Africa, military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are increasing pressure on foreign firms, while Storm Eowyn has caused power cuts and transport chaos in the UK and Ireland. Lastly, the election in Belarus is likely to extend the rule of the country's long-standing dictator. These events have the potential to impact businesses and investors globally, and it is crucial to stay informed and prepared for any potential risks or opportunities that may arise.
Donald Trump's Tariff Threats
Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico on February 1, citing concerns over border security. This move could risk starting a full-blown trade war within the deeply interconnected North American economy, with massive implications for the entire continent. Economists predict that the tariffs would swiftly send the Canadian and Mexican economies into recession and lift consumer prices for Americans on cars, gasoline, and other imported items. However, some analysts believe that Trump is bluffing, as starting a trade war would undermine his promises to boost the US economy and tackle the cost of living. It is possible that Trump may opt not to impose the tariffs, especially if Canada and Mexico agree to renegotiate the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) this year.
Donald Trump's Attempt to Buy Greenland
Donald Trump is set to meet with Greenland's Prime Minister to discuss the potential purchase of the country, despite strong opposition from Denmark. Greenland is a vital strategic asset with abundant natural resources and sits in the middle of the main Arctic trade routes, an area of growing competition between international superpowers. Russia and China have increased their efforts to control the region, and there are concerns that the US has been caught off-guard. Greenland's Prime Minister has expressed willingness to speak with Trump and is working to arrange a meeting soon. However, Denmark has been firm in its stance that Greenland is not for sale and has its own ruling body.
Storm Eowyn Hits UK and Ireland
Storm Eowyn has caused power cuts and transport chaos in the UK and Ireland, with 42,000 area residents working in blue-collar jobs in the UK and 1.2 million people employed in the Irish economy. The storm has disrupted power supplies, leading to blackouts and power cuts in both countries. Transport networks have also been affected, with train and bus services disrupted and some roads closed due to flooding and fallen trees. The storm has caused significant damage to infrastructure, with some areas experiencing power outages for several days. This event highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to extreme weather events and the need for businesses and governments to invest in resilience and adaptation measures.
Military Governments in West Africa
In West Africa, military governments that took power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020 are increasing pressure on foreign firms, demanding higher taxes and royalties and threatening to revoke licenses and permits. This escalation of tensions has raised concerns among foreign investors and could have significant implications for businesses operating in the region. The military governments' actions are likely driven by a desire to assert control over natural resources and increase revenue for their countries. However, these actions could have unintended consequences, such as driving away foreign investment and undermining economic growth and development in the region. Businesses operating in West Africa should closely monitor the situation and consider strategies to mitigate potential risks, such as diversifying their operations and engaging in dialogue with local stakeholders.
Further Reading:
Power cuts and transport chaos as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland and UK - Citizentribune
Storm Eowyn: What we know so far - Sky News
Trump could do incredible damage to Mexico and Canada with a single signature - CNN
Themes around the World:
Tax enforcement, digitisation, disputes
IMF-mandated tax reforms expand enforcement, digital payments and FBR capability, while high taxes are cited in multinational exits. Contractual tax disputes (e.g., “super tax” in petroleum) add legal uncertainty, affecting project finance, arbitration risk, and long-term investment appetite.
Tech investment sentiment and resilience
Israel’s innovation ecosystem remains a core investment draw, but conflict-linked volatility and talent constraints influence funding conditions and valuations. Companies should stress-test R&D continuity, cyber risk, and cross-border collaboration, while watching for policy incentives supporting strategic sectors.
FCA crypto regime tightening
FCA’s CP26/4 and Consumer Duty guidance pull crypto trading, custody and safeguarding into mainstream conduct standards, with an authorisation gateway due Sept 2026–Feb 2027 and full regime expected Oct 2027—reshaping UK market entry and product design.
Balochistan security threatens projects
Militant violence in Balochistan is disrupting logistics and deterring FDI, including audits and security redesigns around the $7bn Reko Diq project. Attacks on rail and highways raise insurance, security and schedule costs for mining, energy, and corridor-linked supply chains.
Tightening tech sanctions ecosystem
US and allied export controls and enforcement actions—illustrated by a $252m penalty over unlicensed shipments to SMIC—raise legal and operational risk for firms with China-facing semiconductor supply chains. Expect stricter end-use checks, routing scrutiny, and deal delays.
Nuclear talks uncertainty and snapback
Muscat talks resumed but remain far apart on enrichment and scope, while sanctions continue alongside diplomacy. The risk of negotiation breakdown—or further UN/EU/U.S. “snapback” measures—creates unstable planning horizons for contracts, project finance, and long-cycle investments in Iran-linked trade.
Pressão ESG: EUDR e rastreabilidade
A entrada em vigor do regulamento europeu antidesmatamento (EUDR) aumenta exigências de geolocalização, due diligence e segregação de cargas para soja, carne, café e madeira. Isso eleva custos de conformidade, risco de bloqueio de exportações e necessidade de tecnologia e auditorias.
Currency strength amid weak growth
The rand has rallied roughly 13% year-on-year despite sub-50 manufacturing PMI readings, reflecting global liquidity and carry dynamics more than domestic fundamentals. For multinationals, volatility risk remains: earnings translation, import costs and hedging needs can shift quickly on risk-off shocks.
Cross-border data and security controls
Data security enforcement and national-security framing continue to complicate cross-border transfers, cloud architecture, and vendor selection. Multinationals must design China-specific data stacks, strengthen incident reporting, and anticipate inspections affecting operations, R&D collaboration, and HR systems.
UK–EU trade frictions persist
Post-Brexit trade remains exposed to SPS checks, rules-of-origin compliance and periodic regulatory updates under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Firms face continuing customs/admin costs, inventory buffers, and re-routing decisions, especially in food, chemicals, automotive and retail.
Rising wages and labor tightness
Regular wages rose 3.09% in 2025 to NT$47,884, with electronics overtime at 27.9 hours—highest in 46 years—reflecting AI-driven demand and labor constraints. Cost inflation and capacity bottlenecks may pressure contract terms, automation capex, and talent retention strategies.
Energy import dependence and LNG
Taiwan’s tight energy margins and heavy LNG reliance create acute vulnerability to maritime disruption. Under the U.S. deal, Taiwan plans US$44.4B LNG/crude purchases through 2029, underscoring strategic stockpiling, grid upgrades, and potential cost volatility for industry.
Foreign real estate ownership liberalization
New rules enabling foreign ownership of land (with limits in Makkah/Madinah) are lifting international demand for Saudi property and mixed-use developments. This improves investment entry options and collateralization, but requires careful title, zoning, and regulatory due diligence.
Sanctions and secondary-risk pressure
U.S. sanctions enforcement remains a major commercial variable, including tariff penalties linked to third-country Russia oil trade. The U.S. removed a 25% additional duty on Indian goods after policy assurances, signaling that supply chains touching sanctioned actors face sudden tariff, banking, and insurance shocks.
Institutional and legal-policy volatility
Moves by the legislature to influence Constitutional Court appointments and broader governance debates underscore institutional risk. For investors, this can translate into less predictable judicial review, permitting outcomes, and enforcement consistency—especially in regulated sectors like mining, environment, and infrastructure.
AI memory-chip supercycle expansion
SK hynix’s record profits and 61% HBM share are driving aggressive capacity and U.S. expansion, including a planned $10bn AI solutions entity plus new packaging and fabs. AI-driven tight memory supply raises input costs but boosts Korea’s tech-led exports.
Orta Koridor lojistik fırsatı
Trans-Hazar Orta Koridoru, Çin‑Avrupa transit süresini deniz yolundaki 35–50 günden 18–25 güne düşürebiliyor. Türkiye’nin demiryolu/liman bağlantıları, depolama ve gümrük verimliliği yatırımları önem kazanıyor; kapasite darboğazı ve sınır geçiş gecikmeleri operasyonel risk.
Contratos mixtos y apertura acotada
El gobierno impulsa “contratos mixtos” con participación estatal mínima de 40% para atraer capital, ejemplificado por Macavil. Esto abre oportunidades selectivas en E&P y servicios, pero con riesgos de gobernanza, términos fiscales, ejecución y dependencia de decisiones políticas.
Semiconductor supercycle and capacity
AI-driven memory demand is lifting Samsung Electronics and SK hynix earnings and prompting large 2026 capex. Tight supply and sharply rising DRAM contract prices could raise input costs for global electronics, while boosting Korea’s export revenues and supplier investment opportunities across equipment and materials.
Dollar hedging costs surge
Foreign investors are increasing USD hedge ratios, amplifying dollar swings even without mass Treasury selling. Higher FX-hedging costs reshape portfolio allocation, pricing of long-term supply contracts, and can reduce inward investment appetite while raising working-capital volatility for importers.
Non-tariff barriers and standards convergence
Alongside tariff cuts, Taiwan pledged to address longstanding non-tariff barriers, including easier acceptance of US-built vehicles to US safety standards and broader market access. Firms should anticipate faster regulatory alignment, expanded import competition, and compliance-driven product redesign in some sectors.
Fiscal stimulus mandate reshapes markets
The ruling coalition’s landslide win supports proactive stimulus and strategic spending while markets watch debt sustainability. Equity tailwinds may favor exporters and strategic industries, but bond-yield sensitivity can tighten financial conditions and affect infrastructure, PPP, and procurement pipelines.
Foreign investment scrutiny intensifies
Heightened national-security screening of capital flows—via CFIUS and Defense “FOCI” mitigation reviews—raises execution risk for cross-border M&A and minority stakes, especially in aerospace, AI, space, and dual-use sectors, potentially altering valuation, governance terms, and closing timelines.
India–US trade pact reset
A new interim India–US trade framework cuts U.S. tariffs to ~18% on many Indian exports while India reduces tariffs and non-tariff barriers for U.S. goods. Companies should reassess rules-of-origin, pricing, market access, and compliance timelines.
Monetary easing, inflation volatility
Bank Rate is 3.75% after a close 5–4 vote, with inflation about 3.4% and forecasts near 2% from spring. Shifting rate-cut timing drives sterling moves, refinancing costs, commercial property valuations, and UK project hurdle rates for investors.
Industrial digital twins for energy
Finland’s energy-transition projects and grid investments are increasing uptake of simulation for power systems, heating networks and decarbonization planning. This supports consulting and software exports, but also elevates requirements for data quality, model validation, and regulatory-aligned reporting.
IMF conditionality and tax overhaul
IMF-driven stabilisation remains the central operating constraint: fiscal tightening, FBR tax-administration reforms through June 2027, and periodic programme reviews influence demand, public spending, and regulatory certainty. Businesses should plan for new levies, stricter compliance, and policy reversals.
FX regime and pricing pass-through
Authorities emphasize market-driven FX and inflation targeting, reducing reliance on defending a specific rate. For investors and traders, this improves transparency but raises short-term earnings and contract risks via exchange-rate volatility, repricing cycles, and hedging costs.
FX strength and monetary easing
A strong shekel, large reserves (over $220bn cited), and gradual rate cuts support financial stability but squeeze exporters’ margins and pricing. Importers benefit from currency strength, while hedging strategies become critical amid geopolitical headline-driven volatility.
IMF programme conditionality pressure
Late‑February IMF review will determine release of roughly $1.2bn under the $7bn EFF plus climate-linked RSF funding, tied to tax, energy and governance reforms. Slippage risks delayed disbursements, confidence shocks, and tighter import financing for businesses.
Hydrogen and ammonia export corridors
Saudi firms are building future clean-fuel export pathways, including planned ammonia shipments from Yanbu to Rostock starting around 2030 and waste-to-hydrogen/SAF partnerships. These signal emerging offtake markets, new industrial clusters, and long-lead infrastructure requirements for investors.
Tourism demand mix and margin squeeze
Hotels forecast ~33m foreign arrivals in 2026 versus a 36.7m target; China demand is expected to soften while long-haul grows. Limited room-rate increases and higher labor/social-security costs pressure margins, impacting hospitality, aviation, retail, and real estate revenues.
Sanctions enforcement and secondary risk
Expanded sanctions and tougher enforcement related to Russia, Iran, and technology diversion raise compliance burdens and counterparty risk. Companies face greater exposure to secondary sanctions, stricter due diligence on intermediaries, and potential payment/insurance disruptions, especially in energy, shipping, and dual-use goods.
China-De-Risking und Rohstoffabhängigkeiten
Die EU bleibt durch chinesische Exportkontrollen bei Seltenen Erden verwundbar (ca. 60% Förderung, 90% Verarbeitung). Deutschlands Unternehmen müssen Beschaffung diversifizieren, Lager aufbauen und Substitution beschleunigen. Gleichzeitig wächst politischer Druck, Handelsrisiken mit Investitionszugang und Marktchancen auszubalancieren.
Wage growth versus inflation
Spring ‘shunto’ negotiations aim to sustain at least 5% wage hikes for a third year, after two years above 5%, to restore falling real wages. Outcomes will influence domestic demand, retail pricing, service-sector margins, and labor cost assumptions for multinationals operating in Japan.
Critical minerals and rare earth push
India is building rare earth mineral corridors and magnet incentives (₹7,280 crore) to cut reliance on China (over 45% of needs). Tariff cuts on monazite and processing inputs support downstream EV/renewables supply chains, but execution and permitting remain key risks.