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The Kayak That Broke a Trade War
Description
In Episode 1 of Global Trade with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the nitty-gritty of international commerce through a single fascinating case: the 2018 US tariffs on Chinese-made kayaks. Using this unexpected example, they unpack how a 25% tariff on a seemingly niche product rippled through supply chains, consumer prices, and even trade negotiations. Lucas walks Luna through the World Trade Organization's role in mediating disputes, the rise of free trade agreements like USMCA and CPTPP as workarounds, and why a kayak is actually the perfect symbol for the complexity of global trade today. Along the way, they establish the show's approach: no abstract theory, just real cases, real numbers, and a clear-eyed look at how goods, services, and capital cross borders. By the end, listeners will understand why a Pennsylvania kayak company's fight against a tariff tells you more about the current state of global trade than a hundred white papers.