The US has agreed to reduce import taxes on a number of British goods - should we expect other deals on the way? Also, who is Pope Leo XIV? And how is going to deal with the Vatican's finances? The Spanish parliament is debating reducing the current workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours for over 12 million people, we hear why the Spanish business association thinks it's a bad idea. And not all of us have $200bn to give away, but Bill Gates does and he says he will. We find out why. You can contact us o...
May 08, 2025•26 min
President Trump has announced that his administration has reached a trade deal with the United Kingdom. Speaking in the White House, President Trump said the agreement would provide access to the British market for American beef and agricultural and industrial products. The presidents of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, have held what they described as productive talks at the Kremlin. China is Russia's biggest trading partner. It buys large amounts of oil and gas, helping to comp...
May 08, 2025•26 min
The Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said America's central bank would leave its key interest rate unchanged because of tariff 'uncertainty'. We hear from Gary Schlossberg, a global strategist for Wells Fargo Investment Institute and a former researcher at US Treasury and Federal Reserve. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.
May 07, 2025•27 min
In this World Business Report special, Will Bain looks at how US tariffs have affected the Chinese economy, with the two countries set to hold their first talks since the start of the trade war. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, will meet China's Vice Premier, He Lifeng, in Switzerland on Saturday. The US introduced a one- hundred and forty-five percent tariff on Chinese imports last month, while China placed retaliatory one hundred and twenty five percent import taxes on American goods....
May 07, 2025•27 min
The Canadian Premier Mark Carney is in Washington trying to strike a deal with the US President. Carney says Donald Trump is "willing to negotiate" a new trade deal and drop the tariffs following "wide-ranging discussions" at the White House. The presenter Rahul Tandon will look at the other trade deal between the UK and India. Countries have agreed for export whisky, cars and other products to India, and cut taxes on India's clothing and footwear exports. Also, we look at the German economy aft...
May 06, 2025•26 min
Will Bain hears from Germany where Friedrich Merz has become Chancellor - after unexpectedly suffering a setback in the first round of voting in Parliament. His party ,the Christian Democrats, have agreed a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats, promising a responsible and stable administration that'll boost Germany's stagnant economy. The UK and India have announced a free trade deal after years of negotiations, which the British prime minister Kier Starmer called a historic day for b...
May 06, 2025•26 min
US President Donald Trump has said he will hit movies made in foreign countries with 100% tariffs, as he ramps up trade disputes with nations around the world. The European Union has announced a five-hundred-and-sixty-million-dollar fund to attract foreign scientists. Will it work? Also, Rahul Tandon will find out why China is growing their interest in snooker. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.
May 05, 2025•26 min
President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on all films made outside the United States - claiming Hollywood was being 'devastated' by a trend of American filmmakers and studios working abroad. He accused other countries of luring film crews with tax breaks, calling it a threat to national security. Will Bain hears from a filmmaker who worked on Star Wars. And in West Africa, A ban on foreign gold traders in Ghana’s local gold markets, has come into effect and the government of Ghana says t...
May 05, 2025•26 min
Shares of Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, tumbled by as much as 8% on Friday morning after it announced that it has delayed the launch by a year – to May 26, 2026. With the company being valued at around 40 billion US dollars, that is a lot of money being shaved off. The U.S. President Donald Trump repeated that he will revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status, saying that "We are going to be taking away Harvard's tax-exempt status. It's what they deserve!" Harvard, which i...
May 02, 2025•26 min
US job figures were healthier than expected in April with an increase in employment of 177,000 while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%. David Harper looks at what it means for the economy. Also, Americans have got used to buying cheap imports from places like China, without paying import duty. That's now changing as tax is being collected on low-value packages. Australians are heading to the polls this weekend, our reporter has been finding out how the international economic situation ...
May 02, 2025•26 min
As trade wars continue, we explore how businesses of all sizes are surviving. Will tariffs dominate Apple and Amazon's earnings? And how are small businesses staying afloat? The US and Ukraine signed a minerals deal which President Zelensky says is an "equal partnership". Andrew Peach speaks to the US’ former Deputy Director for Batteries and Critical Materials. Plus, the World Health Organisation says cuts in US foreign aid could lead to the worst ever disruption in global health funding. And w...
May 01, 2025•26 min
The US and Ukraine have signed a deal that will give Washington access to some of the war-torn country's natural resources. We're unpicking some of the detail behind a deal to exploit mineral resources in Ukraine. A state backed blog in China suggests that the US might have floated the idea of talks on trade tariffs. And we're hearing stories from Colombia, where support for small businesses could help to keep the peace. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033....
May 01, 2025•26 min
While President Trump has praised his tariffs again, the US economy has shrunk for the first time in three years. Meanwhile, China's factories take a big blow amid the ongoing trade war. Rahul Tandon speaks to small businesses owners feeling the pinch. Plus, with elections looming in Australia this weekend, we take a closer look at the soaring cost of housing—and what it could mean for voters.
Apr 30, 2025•26 min
The US economy contracts during President Trump's first three months in office. GDP fell by 0.3%... Mr Trump blames former President Biden. Meanwhile China blames US tariffs for falls in its manufacturing figures... but there are more positive numbers in Europe. Also, Andrew Peach hears from the UN Assistant Secretary General about Afghanistan's economy under Taliban rule. And we'll hear why a fall in demand for diamonds is very damaging for Botswana. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a ...
Apr 30, 2025•26 min
On the programme we are looking at Donald Trump's first 100 days in power, during which he has talked a lot about tariffs, and there have been many changes to trade policies. Rahul Tandon looks at the key important economic events of the initial 100 days and the way they have upended global trade. Also, Mark Carney is celebrating his election victory in Canada, although Canadian broadcaster CBC projects his party will fall just short of the 172 parliamentary seats needed for a majority....
Apr 29, 2025•26 min
Roger Hearing looks at the economic impact of the first 100 days of the second Trump Presidency, as the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the changing of policy around tariffs creates "strategic uncertainty" . We also hear from Mexicans deported from the US under the president's push on immigration. Meanwhile Mark Carney's Liberal Party wins the Canadian election. But what can Mr Carney do to deal with the tariff threat? We'll hear from one of Canada's leading industrialists. Plus the Eur...
Apr 29, 2025•26 min
Canadians are voting in a general election which has been dominated by Donald Trump's trade war and threats to annex the country. The leaders of the two main parties rejected a renewed assertion by Mr Trump on election day that Canada should become the fifty-first US state. Devina Gupta hears from the BBC’s economics editor Faisal Islam, who is in Ottawa, and Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. And the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has urged people...
Apr 28, 2025•26 min
Roger Hearing hears how a massive power cut has hit Spain and Portugal, along with parts of France. Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica said it was working with energy companies to restore power. Also - the impact of US tariffs begins to bite as there's a big downturn in goods arriving from China. The steepest rise in global spending on defence since the end of the Cold War - we'll find out who's buying what. Plus Kenya lifts a ban on licencing new commercial banks - and what are the econo...
Apr 28, 2025•26 min
A new survey by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research has revealed that consumer confidence in the United States has seen its largest drop since 1990. In Canada voters go to the polls on Monday, and a big issue will be the country’s future relationship with the US. Rahul Tandon discusses the growing economic divide in North America with prominent Canadian businesswoman Arlene Dickinson. And California has overtaken Japan to become the fourth largest global economic force beh...
Apr 25, 2025•26 min
Donald Trump has signed a controversial executive order aimed at stepping up deep-sea mining within the US and in international waters. The Thursday order is the latest issued by the US president to try to increase America's access to minerals used by the aerospace, green technology and healthcare sectors. Andrew Peach hears from Gerard Barron, Chairman and CEO, The Metals Company, which has been long pushed for permission to mine in the seabed, and Duncan Currie from Deep Sea Conservation Coali...
Apr 25, 2025•26 min
China has said no to any trade talks until the US withdraws its tariffs, but which of the World's two superpowers will blink first and bring the growing trade war to a halt? Rahul Tandon finds out how children's Christmas presents could fall victim to the US-China trade war, as President Trump's tariffs threaten to disrupt the global toys market. As the situation in Kashmir develops and Pakistan suspends all trade with India, we hear from Uzair Younhis on what the economic impact will be on Paki...
Apr 24, 2025•26 min
As tensions rise, Pakistan says any attempt by India to limit its water supply will be seen as an act of war. This comes after India blamed Pakistan for the attack in India-administered Kashmir, and introduced a series of measures, including the suspension of a water-sharing treaty and the closure of the main border crossing. And in Washington, South Korea’s delegation are meeting the US diplomats today to discuss about the 25% tariffs across the board with more on semiconductors, steel and cars...
Apr 24, 2025•26 min
And Rahul Tandon talks to a former advisor to Jerome Powell about the US President's blistering attacks on the Federal Reserve chair.
Apr 23, 2025•26 min
Beijing says the door for trade talks with the US is wide open, though it's also criticised President Trump's negotiating tactics. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Washington couldn't say it wanted to reach a trade agreement with China while simultaneously exerting extreme pressure. Shares in Tesla are up nearly five per cent following remarks by its billionaire boss, Elon Musk, that he is likely to scale back his work for the Trump administration next month. Around the world, wine p...
Apr 23, 2025•26 min
President Trump says tariffs on China “will not be anywhere near 145%” but won’t be removed all together. It follows US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying he expected a ‘de escalation’ in US China tariffs. The International Monetary Fund has revised its global growth forecast in the wake of Trump’s tariffs, with the US expected to be hit hardest. And the boardgames industry is suffering the consequences of tariffs. A number of companies have launched a legal case against the Trump administr...
Apr 22, 2025•26 min
The International Monetary Fund has slashed its outlook for global growth, adding that US tariffs and market uncertainty will lead to a significant worldwide slowdown. India and the US are making progress in negotiating a bilateral trade deal after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US Vice President JD Vance in Delhi. And in the UK, an isolated island where Stormzy wrote an album is on sale – and expected to go for more than £25m ($33m). Andrew Peach hears from Simon Pelling...
Apr 22, 2025•26 min
Stocks tumble on Wall Street as the week begins. The reason seems to be President Trump's desire to replace the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell. The US Vice President JD Vance has met with India's prime minister Narendra Modi to discuss a trade deal. And the United Nations says the cyberscam industry is expanding globally including to South America and Africa. We hear from International Justice Mission which has been campaigning to help the people forced to working at these scam c...
Apr 21, 2025•26 min
US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in the Indian capital, Delhi, where he is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid global trade tensions sparked by Washington's tariff policies. The talks are likely to focus on fast-tracking a much-awaited bilateral trade deal between the two countries. The spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank kick off in Washington today, with the state of the global economy front and centre. And we hear about Dubai’s new ...
Apr 21, 2025•26 min
Tension has grown between President Trump and head of the Federal Reserve. Jerome Powell has faced fierce criticism from Donald Trump, who's accused him of being too slow to cut interest rates. We speak to Chinese manufacturers about the impact of tariffs on their business And a host of new Star Wars films and TV shows have been announced. Ryan Gosling, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, will take the lead.
Apr 18, 2025•26 min
As President Xi concludes his tour of key East Asian exporting nations, Will Bain explores what deepening ties with Cambodia could mean for the region which also faces the threat of high US tariffs. Also on the programme, the United States unveils plans to impose new port fees on Chinese-built and operated ships—part of a push to revive its domestic shipbuilding industry. China warns the move will disrupt supply chains and hurt global trade. And we head to the European Alps, where a rare spring ...
Apr 18, 2025•26 min
