How do you identify which markets present the best opportunity for growth, and which are especially vulnerable to fluctuating trade and tariff policies? In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam uncovers the origin stories behind two tools created to address these key questions: the Strategic Opportunity Index (SOI) and the Trade and Tariff Vulnerability Index (TTV). Joining Kristen for this discussion are expert guests Cassandra Pagan, Justin Valentino, and Natasha McSwiggan....
Jul 05, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 27
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by analysts Jacob Lees Weiss and Kevjn Lim to explore the intricate and rapidly shifting risk landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Recorded before significant military operations in Iran, the discussion explores nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, the implications of potential sanctions, and the dynamics of Israeli military strategy. The episode highlights key geopolitical tensions, including...
Jun 28, 2025•19 min•Season 3Ep. 26
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by Max Janthur, the product specialist for Port Performance, to delve into the critical issue of congestion at the world's ports. As global trade continues to evolve, understanding the role of ports becomes increasingly vital for economies and supply chains. Max shares insights from the latest Port Performance report, highlighting the significant risks and impacts of port congestion, including increased operational costs, sup...
Jun 21, 2025•10 min•Season 3Ep. 25
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives deep into the complex world of the maritime shadow fleet, exploring its emergence and evolution since the introduction of the oil price cap on December 5, 2022. Joined by Ines Nastali, Senior Supply Chain Analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, the discussion covers how these oil tankers operate outside traditional regulatory frameworks, often evading sanctions imposed by various governments. Listeners will gain insights i...
Jun 14, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 24
In this episode of The Decisive, we're sharing highlights from our US macroeconomic webinar on May 20, featuring expert commentary from our economics team at S&P Global Market Intelligence. We dive deep into the forecast for the US economy, which faces a slowdown. Projected growth is expected to average just 0.8% per quarter in 2025, raising questions about the potential for a recession. We explain the anatomy of a recession, walking through recent examples, and share our outlook. Our econom...
Jun 07, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 23
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam explores the complex landscape of tariffs under the current administration, focusing on the implications of Section 232 reviews. Joined by experts Chris Rogers and John Anton , the conversation covers the nuances of industry-specific tariffs that impact a wide range of sectors, from steel and aluminum to electronics and pharmaceuticals. Listeners will gain insights into the ongoing tariff negotiations, the potential ramifications for s...
May 31, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 22
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, experts from S&P Global Market Intelligence explore the complexities of global trade negotiations and their profound impact on geopolitical relationships. The panel discusses the objectives behind U.S. trade policy, including the implementation of tariffs as negotiation tools and their implications for job markets and elections. Gain a comprehensive understanding of how countries in Southeast Asia and members of the European Union are navigating the d...
May 24, 2025•37 min•Season 3Ep. 21
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, S&P Global Market Intelligence's Paul Smith is joined by fellow economists Andrew Harker and Annabel Fiddes to explore the latest findings from the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data. The discussion focuses on the significant impact of recent tariff announcements on the global economy, with a particular emphasis on Asia. Listeners will gain insights into the current state of global goods trade, which has seen a notable decline in manufacturing new ...
May 17, 2025•19 min•Season 3Ep. 20
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the shipping and logistics industry. Joined by industry experts Eric Oak and Eric Johnson , the discussion covers the distinctions between AI and automation, the current applications of AI in shipping, and the challenges companies face in leveraging this technology. The conversation also touches on future trends, the evolving workforce landscape, and the potential ...
May 10, 2025•38 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Join host Kristen Hallam and a panel of experts as they discuss the growing concerns of domestic instability impacting countries around the globe. With a focus on the repercussions of the 2024 election cycle, the conversation explores how economic inequality, technological disruptions, and political polarization are reshaping social contracts between governments and citizens. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the political landscape of key regions, including Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin ...
May 03, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 18
In this insightful episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam moderates a discussion on the potential impacts of the April 2 tariff announcements and their implications for global trade. Featuring expert analyses from S&P Global Market Intelligence's Ken Wattret, Aries Poon, Eric Oak, and Thomas McCartin, the episode explores how tariffs are reshaping supply chains, affecting domestic industries, and influencing economic forecasts. Listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of the c...
Apr 26, 2025•37 min•Season 3Ep. 17
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives deep into the intricacies of PIERS, the Port Import-Export Reporting System, with Brendan Neary, Product Manager in S&P Global's trade portfolio. Together, they explore the evolution of PIERS data, its historical significance, and its vital role in understanding global trade flows. Brendan explains how the dataset has adapted to modern challenges, including the impact of tariffs and supply chain disruptions. Listeners will ga...
Apr 19, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 16
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages in an insightful discussion with S&P Global Market Intelligence experts Shuchita Shukla and Dijedon Imeri about the implications of potential U.S. tariffs on the European Union's economy. Recorded shortly after significant tariff announcements by the US government, the episode delves into how these measures could reshape trade dynamics, impact growth forecasts, and influence the EU's decision-making process. The conversatio...
Apr 12, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 15
The episode of The Decisive, taken from a March 20 webinar, features insights from experts including Ken Wattret , Ben Herzon , Arlene Kish , Nicolas Suarez , Timo Klein , and Hanna Luchnikava-Schorsch. The panel of economists discusses evolving economic and trade policies and their implications across various regions. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the current economic policies in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, the European Union, China and India, particularly the impact of...
Apr 05, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam discusses the hot topics from the recent Transpacific Maritime, or TPM, conference with Mark Szakonyi, executive editor of The Journal of Commerce, and Chris Rogers, head of supply chain research at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Mark and Chris provide insights on the effects of proposals by the US government such as tariffs, the innovative Gemini shipping model, and what to expect at the upcoming Breakbulk conference, which like ...
Mar 29, 2025•21 min•Season 3Ep. 13
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Paul Smith , alongside economists Andrew Harker and Joe Hayes, reveals the latest trends and insights from the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data, with a particular focus on the impact of tariffs on global manufacturing. The economists highlight the contrasting performance of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican manufacturing sectors, exploring how tariffs have influenced export orders, input prices, and overall business sentiment. With timely analysis...
Mar 22, 2025•22 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In this episode, host Kristen Hallam dives into the complexities of global security hotspots and their profound effects on marine cargo with expert insights from Columb Strack , Head of Global Cargo Risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Kristen and Columb explore the repercussions of geopolitical conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and its impact on Black Sea trade dynamics, as well as the challenges posed by Middle East conflicts and Houthi threats to maritime security. Discover h...
Mar 15, 2025•20 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam leads a discussion of key takeaways from TPM25, the world's largest container shipping converence, which recently took place in Long Beach, Calif. Kristen interviews S&P Global Market Intelligence's Natznet Tesfay , Vice President and Head of Insights and Analysis, and Jack A. Kennedy , Head of Middle East North Africa Country Risk, who each spoke at the conference this year. Natznet shares highlights of her interview with former U...
Mar 08, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam interviews Economics Director Arlene Kish about the outlook for the Canadian economy and the potential impact of US tariffs and reciprocal Canadian tariffs. Should you stock up on maple syrup? Which industries could be most impacted? How is domestic political uncertainty affecting business investment and other aspects of the economy? "Expect the unexpected," Kish says. Listen now to learn more. More S&P Global Market Intelligence C...
Mar 01, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam interviews Byron McKinney, Product Management Director for S&P Global's Trade Compliance Solutions. As they explore the complexities of sanctions and trade compliance, listeners will gain valuable insights into the latest developments affecting international business. Recorded in anticipation of the upcoming S&P Global Market Intelligence Sanctions and Export Control User Group Seminar, this episode addresses current challenges...
Feb 22, 2025•22 min•Season 3Ep. 8
What key priorities will the new administration and a Republican-majority Congress emphasize as President Donald Trump embarks on his first 100 days in office? How will these initiatives shape the US economic landscape and influence the operational environment? Our experts will offer insights on tariffs, trade, the US economy, metals markets, immigration and foreign relations among other issues that are front-of-mind since Trump began his second term. Listen now. More S&P Global Market Intel...
Feb 15, 2025•43 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode of our podcast, taken from our January 2025 webinar, we dive into the latest trends and insights from the global construction industry. Our experts share their perspectives on the current state of the market and the outlook for the coming year. They discuss how our economic forecasts inform our views of the industry and highlight key themes to watch within each region. Listen now. More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content: Download the full report Power Plays in 2025 Global...
Feb 08, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 6
As the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict approaches, The Decisive podcast delves into the current outlook for the war and its implications for global security. For this discussion, host Kristen Hallam is joined by two experts, Blanka Calnan, Head of European Country Risk, and John Raines, Head of North America Country Risk. They explore President Donald Trump's approach to NATO, particularly in light of the changes that have occurred since the onset of the Ukraine war. Listen now ...
Feb 01, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode of the The Decisive podcast, taken from our Jan. 21 client webinar, Ken Wattrett , Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, leads an insightful discussion of the macroeconomic landscape for 2025. Ken's conversation with Ben Herzon and Yating Xu focuses on the potential impacts of the new US administration's policies on the economy. Various factors are influencing economic forecasts, including trade tariffs, consumer spending — and heightened uncer...
Jan 25, 2025•21 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this episode of The Decisive, Emily Crowley , head of the Pricing and Purchasing team at S&P Global Market Intelligence, analyzes the potential impacts of proposed changes in tariffs and immigration policy in President Donald Trump's second term. This is an excerpt from a Dec. 11, 2024, webinar. Listen now for insights in how these changes could impact your procurement activities. More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content: Download the full report: Power Plays in 2025 North America:...
Jan 18, 2025•13 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, we delve into the pivotal trade and immigration policies of President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares for his inauguration on January 20th. Join host Kristen Hallam and Head of North American Country Risk John Raines as we explore the implications of these policies on US-Canada and US-Mexico relations, the potential economic impacts of proposed tariffs, and possible legal challenges surrounding both trade and immigration strategies. More S&P Global ...
Jan 11, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Economic angst is one of our four key themes for 2025. The anchors around the global economy — low inflation, low interest rates, international cooperation and frictionless trade — have become unmoored. This adds uncertainty to the outlook for growth in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, S&P Global Market Intelligence economists including Ken Wattret , Chris Williamson , Ben Herzon , and Hanna Luchnikava-Schorsch reveal our top 10 insights for the year ahead. They explore the implications of ...
Jan 04, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 1
The interplay of geopolitical rivalries, economic shifts and evolving trade dynamics will define a conflicted global landscape over 2025. In our last episode of 2024, we explore four key themes shaping this environment: economic angst, domestic discontent, elusive alliances, and trade troubles. These capture the fragility of global economic growth, the rise of unstable coalitions, the evolving nature of external alliances, and the intricacies of trade barriers and tariffs. Strategic adaptability...
Dec 21, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 29
As we approach 2025, we are reflecting on our key themes for 2024. In this episode, we’re revisiting some key moments and insights from our previous episodes on the themes of supply chain resilience, resource security, and logistics rewired. This wraps up our 2024 in review series. Next week's episode will focus on our big themes for 2025. More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content: Supply chain strategies to mitigate tariffs Fishing for CHPIs: Trade flows adapt to sanctions on Russia US pr...
Dec 14, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 28
As we approach 2025, we are reflecting on our key themes for 2024. In this episode, we’re revisiting some key moments and insights from our previous episodes on the theme of economic fault lines. We reflect on how regional divergence in inflation rates and monetary policy is exposing economic fault lines around the globe. More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content: Global economic outlook: November 2024 Using the Global PMI instead of GDP as a macro indicator for investing Sign up for the n...
Dec 07, 2024•24 min•Season 2Ep. 27
