Business Matters

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Business Matters

Global business and finance news and discussion from the BBC.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    WTO says global trade will fall this year

    Key figures in the global economy have been speaking about the potential impact of a trade war between the World's two largest economies, initiated by President Donald Trump's tariffs. The World Trade Organisation is forecasting that global trade will fall this year, and its director general, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, warned that a trade war between the US and China could affect all countries worldwide. Rahul Tandon finds out how Chinese manufacturers are concerned about tariffs, and speaks to an aviation specialist about why a bathroom problem is set to cost Boeing millions of dollars. And we hear how the remote Pacific island nation of Tuvalu celebrated the unveiling of its first cash machine.

    50 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    Sudan’s civil war devastates both lives and the economy

    Sam Fenwick is joined by Erin Mc Laughlin, senior economist at the Conference Board in New York and Simon Littlewood, a business consultant based in Singapore. Two years into a civil war, Sudan is home to the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The International Red Cross is urging all sides to stop attacks on civilian infrastructure. We hear about Chinese president Xi Jinping's tour around Southeast Asia and what Malaysia stands to gain from new trade deals with China. Also in the programme, why are Chinese influencers going viral on TikTok over tariffs?

    50 min

  3. 3 DAYS AGO

    "No winners" in a trade war, says China's President

    Sam Fenwick is joined by Emily Feng, International correspondent for NPR in Washington DC and Peter Landers, Asia Business and Finance Editor at Wall Street Journal in Singapore. China's president declared their will be no winners in the trade war as he tours Southeast Asia, aiming to strengthen ties with neighbouring nations. We hear how tariffs are shaping US consumer confidence and leading to potential drug shortages. Also in the programme, how do University Spin-Out Businesses boost the economy?

    49 min

  4. 6 DAYS AGO

    Global markets continue to struggle after a difficult week

    The White House has insisted that President Trump’s tariffs will make the United States richer, despite the falling value of the US dollar. We hear from Tomas Philipson, a former acting chairman of President Trump's Council of Economic Advisers. Also, a global deal to tackle shipping emissions has been agreed after nearly ten years of negotiations. The UN's maritime agency (the IMO) brokered the accord, which requires ship owners to use less carbon-intensive fuels or face a penalty. Roger Hearing speaks to IMO's secretary general, Arsenio Dominguez, about how it would work. And on Saturday, the UK is going to see an emergency recall of parliament when members had already departed for their Easter break, and they are recalled to discuss a law to take control of the Chinese-owned British Steel and save it from imminent closure. Throughout the programme, we’ll be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Peter Ryan, ABC's senior business correspondent, who's in Sydney, and Takara Small, national technology columnist for the CBC, who's in Toronto.

    49 min

  5. 11 APR

    Donald Trump recognises tariff 'transition difficulty' as US stock market falls again

    President Donald Trump admits a period of difficult transition is inevitable as his trade policies continue to cause upheaval in international markets. And after the end of the Cold War, the world economy became integrated, and globalisation began, but is that at risk now because of the tariffs, trade war and protectionism? Presenter Roger Hearing speaks to Mohamed El Erian, former IMF Deputy Director who is now President of Queens' College, Cambridge, and chief. Also, a general strike against public spending cuts in Argentina has severely disrupted transport systems in the country. All domestic flights have been cancelled; trains and metro services have been suspended in Buenos Aires and other parts of the country. Throughout the program, Roger will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Yoko Ishikura, a professor emeritus at Hitotsubashi University in Japan, and Tony Nash, CEO and founder of Complete Intelligence, an AI-based financial forecasting firm in Houston.

    49 min

  6. 10 APR

    China now faces 125% US tariffs in trade war

    In a dramatic change of policy, US President Donald Trump hikes China tariffs to 125% on goods entering the United States. Most other countries will now see a 90-day pause on higher import taxes. The pause means a "universal 10%" tariff will be in place for all countries, other than China, the White House said. Markets soared following the announcement with all three main US indices closing up more than 6%. Throughout the program, Rahul Tandon will be joined by two guests: Emily Peck, Axios US Markets correspondent in New York, and Han Lin, The Asia Group China Country Director in Shanghai.

    49 min

  7. 9 APR

    Traders on tenterhooks over new tariffs

    As some of the World's largest economies get ready to face new tariffs, we find out what a battle on levy's could mean for the global economy. We hear from a Gulf Coast business feeling positive about the charges, and the predicament of a Californian retailer reliant on imports. Elsewhere Rahul Tandon speaks to a Malaysian economist and a garment manufacturer in Bangladesh to find out how the tariffs implemented by US President Donald Trump are being felt around the World. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

    49 min

  8. 8 APR

    Making sense of a turbulent time for the markets

    We speak to experts in the world's two largest economies - the USA and China - about the impact of a tariff war, and whether stock markets around the globe will continue to fall as we saw on Monday. Rahul Tandon speaks to a footwear designer in California on how any international tariff battle will affect their business. And we find out about the housing crisis in Spain that led to hundreds of thousands of demonstrators take to streets across the country over the weekend. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

    50 min
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About

Global business and finance news and discussion from the BBC.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2025
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Business Matters

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