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How One Rule Rewrote Global Trade in Used Cars
Description
In this 50th episode of Global Trade with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into a single rule that reshaped the global trade of used cars: the minimum age requirement under the U.S.-Japan trade agreement. They trace how a 25-year-old import rule created a massive export market for Japanese vehicles, transformed the economies of East African nations, and sparked a debate about environmental standards and consumer safety. With concrete examples like the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Nissan Leaf, they explain how a seemingly minor regulatory detail generated billions in cross-border flows, from Yokohama to Dar es Salaam. The episode also covers how the rise of electric vehicles and carbon border taxes is now challenging this decades-old trade pattern. Perfect for listeners who want to understand how trade policy affects everyday goods, from the cars on the road to the second-hand market.