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Mission Grey Daily Brief - February 10, 2025

Summary of the Global Situation for Businesses and Investors

The global situation is marked by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. President Donald Trump has implemented a series of policies that have significant implications for international relations and global trade. The war in Ukraine continues to escalate, with North Korea supporting Russia and a Russian oligarch warning of a potential world war. Trump's policies have also impacted allies such as Canada, Mexico, and Australia, as well as rivals like China. Trump's tariffs and trade policies have disrupted supply chains and increased costs for consumers and businesses. Trump's actions have also strained relations with allies and rivals, creating a volatile and unpredictable environment for businesses and investors.

Trump's Tariffs and Trade Policies

President Donald Trump has implemented a series of tariffs and trade policies that have significant implications for international relations and global trade. Trump's tariffs have disrupted supply chains and increased costs for consumers and businesses. Trump's tariffs on China have impacted the pharmaceutical industry, as China supplies the U.S. with approximately 30% of its active pharmaceutical ingredients. Trump's tariffs could lead to shortages or increased costs of generic drugs, putting patients at risk. Trump's tariffs have also impacted Ireland, which is highly exposed to U.S. trade policies due to historic links and an industrial policy that has relied on tax measures attractive to U.S. multinational corporations. Ireland collects much of the corporate tax revenue that a more coherent U.S. tax code would channel back across the Atlantic. Trump's tariffs have also impacted Canada, which is highly integrated with the U.S. auto industry and relies on Canada's heavier crude oils. Trump's tariffs have disrupted supply chains and increased costs for Canadian businesses and consumers. Trump's tariffs have also impacted Mexico, which is highly integrated with the U.S. auto industry and relies on Mexican labor for manufacturing. Trump's tariffs have disrupted supply chains and increased costs for Mexican businesses and consumers. Trump's tariffs have also impacted Australia, which is highly integrated with the U.S. steel and aluminum industry. Trump's tariffs have disrupted supply chains and increased costs for Australian businesses and consumers.

The War in Ukraine and North Korea's Involvement

The war in Ukraine continues to escalate, with North Korea supporting Russia and a Russian oligarch warning of a potential world war. North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops, resulting in heavy losses for both sides. A Russian oligarch, Andrey Melnichenko, has warned that a world war could follow if <co:


Further Reading:

China makes some of Americans’ most common medicines. They won’t be spared from Trump’s tariffs - The Independent

Chinese construction risks turning the Yellow Sea into a flashpoint - Business Insider

Elite North Korean troops return to the fight after devastating battlefield losses - New York Post

Patrick Honohan: Ireland is more exposed to Trump’s tariff war than any other European country - The Irish Times

Putin Ally Warns Trump Escalation in Ukraine 'Will Lead to a World War' - Newsweek

They helped the US fight the Taliban. Now Trump has left these Afghans stranded - The Independent

Trump is intensifying his trade war. Australia may not be immune - Sydney Morning Herald

Trump will formally announce steel and aluminum duties Monday, including on Canada - Toronto Star

Ukraine-Russia war live: North Korean army supports ‘just cause’ of Putin’s war, Kim Jong Un says - The Independent

‘This is the next four years’: Canadian officials react to Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariff threats - Toronto Star

‘Turn this around’: Alarm grows in Australia after Trump announces 25 per cent tariffs - Sydney Morning Herald

‘We can’t count on the U.S. anymore’: Canada can pull away from America and thrive, economists say - Toronto Star

Themes around the World:

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Energy and Infrastructure Deals

Indonesia signed major Japan and South Korea investment agreements worth about US$33.8 billion across LNG, geothermal, solar, carbon capture, and downstream minerals. These projects improve long-term infrastructure and energy security, while opening opportunities in engineering, equipment supply, and industrial services.

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Judicial Reform Weakens Legal Certainty

Judicial reform continues to unsettle investors by raising concerns over court independence, dispute resolution quality and institutional predictability. Mexican lawmakers are already considering corrective changes after criticism that inexperienced judges and rushed procedures have weakened business confidence and slowed investment decisions.

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Export Controls as Leverage

Beijing’s wider export controls on rare earths, dual-use goods and potentially solar equipment are increasing licensing delays, compliance risk and supply uncertainty. European firms report near-breakpoint disruptions, while China’s dominance in critical inputs raises coercion and diversification pressures.

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FDI Surge Favors High-Tech

Vietnam continues attracting multinational capital despite external shocks. Registered FDI rose 42.9% year on year to $15.2 billion in Q1, with $5.41 billion disbursed. Manufacturing captured 70.6% of total registered and adjusted capital, while cities prioritize semiconductors, data centers, logistics, and R&D.

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Non-Oil Growth and Reform Momentum

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy continues to expand, with Q4 2025 GDP up 5% year on year and non-oil activity growing 4.3%. This strengthens domestic demand and investment appeal, but also raises expectations for continued regulatory reform and private-sector execution capacity.

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Operational Risk Extends Into Shipping

The maritime environment around Russian trade is becoming more hazardous, with vessel seizures, convoy rerouting, suspected sabotage, and infrastructure security concerns. Businesses face longer routes around northern Europe, greater spill and compliance risks, and higher exposure across shipping and port operations.

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Energy Windfall Masks Fragility

Higher oil and commodity prices have temporarily lifted Russia’s export earnings and fiscal revenues, with Urals near or above Brent and some estimates showing billions in extra monthly receipts. But the gain remains volatile, politically contingent, and vulnerable to demand destruction.

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Regional Trade Frictions Inside SACU

Import restrictions by Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique on South African produce are disrupting regional food supply chains and undermining SACU and AfCFTA commitments. With 17% of South Africa’s $15.1 billion agricultural exports going to SACU in 2025, policy unpredictability is rising.

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US Metal Tariffs Hit Manufacturing

Revised U.S. Section 232 rules now tax the full value of many metal-intensive goods, sharply increasing costs for Canadian exporters. BRP alone cited over $500 million in tariff impact, while smaller manufacturers face cancelled orders, margin compression, relocations, and layoffs.

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Skilled Migration Cost Reset

Australia raised employer-sponsored visa salary thresholds to AUD 76,515, with specialist roles at AUD 141,210, to align migrant pay with domestic wages. The move improves labour-market integrity but raises hiring costs and compliance burdens for employers facing persistent skills shortages.

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Battery Localization and China Exposure

Paris is courting Asian battery manufacturers to build capacity in northern France, including ProLogium’s subsidized Dunkirk plant backed by about €1.5 billion. The strategy reduces dependence on China-dominated battery and rare-earth supply chains, while increasing scrutiny of foreign investment structures.

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Sanctions Policy Clouds Energy Flows

Washington’s temporary easing of some Russian oil restrictions, now under political challenge, highlights sanctions unpredictability in energy markets. For importers, traders and refiners, sudden changes in U.S. enforcement can alter crude availability, pricing, shipping routes and compliance risks.

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Energy Nationalism and Payment Stress

Mexico’s energy framework continues to favor Pemex and CFE, with permit delays, tighter fuel rules and more centralized regulation. U.S. authorities say Pemex still owes over $2.5 billion to American suppliers, raising counterparty, compliance and investment risks for energy-linked businesses.

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State asset sales acceleration

Cairo is advancing privatizations, including four divestment deals worth $1.5 billion, temporary listings for 20 state firms, and airport concessions. This expands entry opportunities in logistics, renewables, finance and infrastructure, but execution risk and valuation transparency remain material for investors.

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Tariff Volatility Reshapes Planning

Frequent shifts in U.S. tariff policy remain the most immediate business risk, with rates reportedly changed more than 50 times in a year. Legal reversals, fresh Section 232 actions, and temporary global tariffs are disrupting sourcing, pricing, contracts, and investment decisions.

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Critical Minerals Diversification Urgent

China’s tighter rare-earth controls have sharpened Japan’s supply-chain vulnerability in EVs, electronics and defence-linked industries. Tokyo is diversifying through France, Australia, the US and prospective domestic seabed resources, but transition risks remain for manufacturers dependent on Chinese inputs.

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Semiconductor Manufacturing Scale-Up

India approved Tata’s ₹91,000 crore chip fabrication SEZ in Dholera, expected to create about 21,000 jobs, alongside Micron and other projects. The build-out strengthens electronics supply-chain localization, lowers import dependence, and improves India’s attractiveness for advanced manufacturing investment.

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Port resilience amid targeting

Ports remain operational but strategically exposed. Haifa has featured in Iranian strike claims, while Ashdod reported strong 2025 performance despite prolonged conflict, with revenue up 17% to NIS 1.232 billion. Businesses should assume continued maritime continuity, but under persistent security and disruption risk.

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India and China Demand Shift

Russian crude flows are being rebalanced across Asia, with March deliveries to India rising to about 2.1 million bpd while flows to China eased. This concentration heightens dependence on a narrower customer base, changing bargaining power, freight economics, and exposure for commodity-linked investors.

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Energy Import Shock Exposure

Turkey’s heavy dependence on imported oil and gas leaves it exposed to regional conflict. The central bank estimates a permanent 10% oil-price increase adds 1.1 percentage points to inflation and worsens the annual energy balance by $3-5 billion.

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Fuel Security Import Vulnerability

Middle East disruption has exposed Australia’s reliance on imported refined fuels, prompting new powers for Export Finance Australia to underwrite fuel and fertiliser cargoes. Rising shipping, insurance and pump costs increase supply-chain risk, especially for transport-intensive and regional business operations.

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EU Gas Exit Reshapes Flows

The EU bought 97% of Yamal LNG exports in Q1, taking 69 cargoes worth about €2.88 billion, yet phased restrictions are advancing. Spot-contract bans begin immediately, with broader LNG and pipeline gas prohibitions set by 2027, reshaping regional energy logistics.

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High-Tech Investment Policy Support

The Knesset’s 2026 budget introduced new R&D tax credits to retain technology investment amid OECD Pillar Two reforms. Enhanced incentives for peripheral regions and large firms may support multinational expansion, hiring, and IP activity, partly offsetting geopolitical and financing concerns.

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Defence Machinery Demand Expansion

Finland’s €546.8 million order for 112 additional K9 self-propelled howitzers, plus related maintenance and modification work, signals stronger demand for heavy mobility platforms and components. Defence procurement is creating openings for suppliers, local integration, aftermarket services, and resilient industrial partnerships.

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Lelepa Resort ESG Contestation

Royal Caribbean’s planned Lelepa private beach development, designed for up to 5,000 visitors daily and targeted for 2027, faces community objections over environmental assessments and cultural heritage risks. This raises permitting, reputational, legal, and stakeholder-management challenges for cruise-linked investment.

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Port and Rail Bottlenecks

A Vancouver rail bridge failure disrupted exports of oil, grain, coal and potash through Canada’s busiest port, underscoring aging logistics risks. Supply-chain resilience now depends on faster upgrades to bridges, rail links, dredging and terminal capacity.

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Auto Sector Tariff Pressures

U.S. tariffs continue to strain Canada’s auto ecosystem, with industry leaders estimating about $5 billion in 2025 tariff costs. January vehicle and parts exports fell 21.2% to $5.4 billion, pressuring assembly, suppliers, employment and North American just-in-time production networks.

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Industrial Cost Pass-Through Stress

Surging naphtha and energy costs are disrupting petrochemicals, steel, construction materials, and other basic industries, with some firms unable to pass increases onto customers. Smaller manufacturers are especially exposed, raising risks of margin compression, delayed deliveries, and supplier financial strain.

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Rising Business Cost Burden

Companies are confronting higher wage, transport, energy and compliance costs alongside softer demand. Services PMI fell to 50.3 and export sales declined, signalling margin pressure across sectors and forcing firms to reassess hiring, pricing, footprint decisions and near-term expansion plans.

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Won and Capital Market Volatility

Foreign investors pulled record sums from Korean securities, including about $29.78 billion from stocks in March, while the won weakened and daily FX swings widened. Elevated market volatility raises hedging costs, complicates capital planning, and can deter portfolio and direct investment decisions.

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Semiconductor Push Deepens Industrial Policy

India is intensifying semiconductor ambitions through ISM 2.0, with reports of ₹1.2 lakh crore in planned support and multiple plants advancing in Gujarat. This strengthens long-term electronics localisation, supplier ecosystems and export potential, though execution and technology-dependence risks remain significant.

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Demographic Decline Deepens Shortages

Taiwan’s labor outlook is worsening as fertility fell to 0.695 last year, with February births at a record-low 6,523 and population declining for 26 straight months. Businesses should expect tighter labor supply, older workforces, and rising wage and productivity pressures.

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Antitrust and Regulatory Intervention

US authorities are pursuing a more interventionist regulatory stance spanning antitrust, digital platforms, and merger scrutiny. Cases involving Meta, Live Nation, and proposed online platform rules signal greater legal uncertainty for acquisitions, platform dependence, market access, and long-term investment planning.

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Automotive Electrification Localisation

The UK automotive supply chain offers a significant localisation opportunity as electrification advances. Industry estimates an extra £4.6 billion in domestic manufacturing value by 2030, with UK-sourced component demand up 80%, supporting investment in batteries, power electronics and specialist manufacturing.

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Fiscal Fragility and Gilt Risk

Britain remains vulnerable to market stress because of weak public finances and relatively high sovereign borrowing costs. Ten-year gilt yields near 4.77% increase the risk of tighter fiscal policy, reduced stimulus capacity, and volatility across UK assets.

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Critical minerals and battery push

Canada is intensifying support for critical minerals and battery manufacturing, including more than $11 million for Quebec battery projects. Ontario mining exports reached $64 billion in 2023, but regulatory delays, energy costs, and global oversupply in nickel still weigh on competitiveness.