What is driving the global shift towards economic protectionism? Will Bain is joined by Jennifer Pak, NPR&#x27;s China correspondent, and Trevor Simumba, an international business consultant in Zambia, to discuss why the trend has accelerated since Donald Trump&#x27;s tariffs and why global trade remains resilient despite growing barriers. Plus, why Africa&#x27;s Lobito Corridor matters for trade, what AI means for jobs in China and beyond, and why drinks giant Diageo is cutting costs. And, two food heroes: China&#x27;s baozi and Uganda&#x27;s matoke.<br>(Photo: A ship docks at Lobito Port in Angola, 4 December, 2024. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)<br>You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk<br>Presenter: Will Bain<br>Producer: David Cann

Taking stock: Global trade's new reality

Business Daily

Hello, I'm Will Bain and welcome to Business Daily in the week that, sorry, seemed to be the hardest word for the boss of world football's governing body FIFA. Gianni Infantino did manage to stretch to admitting errors had been made in his pursuit for private investment in world football, but his future still looks pretty rocky. No schisms for us though. We're still standing ready to crocodile rock, perhaps. No more mangling about and John puns. It's time to take stock of the Business Week with our panel as always here on the programme.

Jennifer Pak, a China correspondent for NPR, is joining us from Beijing and Trevor Simumba, international development expert, is joining us from the Zambian capital, Lusaka. Hello both. Either of you an Elton John fan? I had a dad who was an Elton John fan. My dad was an Elton John fan. Gianni Infantino fan? Nope. Trevor is the football fan, can speak for all of us there. Yeah, that's the last I think that we'll talk about the boss of world football on the programme today, but we've got absolutely left

loads to get to from trade to the future of booze consumption around the world. So let's get right into it then. This is Taking Stock from Business Daily on the BBC World Service. Yeah, shall we start talking trade guys? Because earlier this week, the body which regulates global imports and exports, the World Trade Organisation published quite an interesting report which found that, in their words, global trade policy intervention reached an all time high in early 2026 as governments increasingly turned to protectionist measures and state aid.

Taking stock: Global trade's new reality

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Taking stock: Global trade's new reality

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.