Chip War Author on Global Fight for Tech Supremacy
Advanced semiconductors, the tiny components crucial for everything from smartphones to national defense, are at the heart of US-China geopolitical rivalry. It's no wonder, then, that the US has increasingly restricted China's access to these chips, while Beijing fights back with its own trade barriers. So where are we in the great chip war? Why are they so important and difficult to make? And what are the prospects for new alliances as chip-hungry countries navigate the new AI world? Chris Miller, author of Chip War and professor of international history at Tufts University, sits down with John and Katia for a crash course on this technology and what lies ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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China Dominates Rare Earths – Can It Be Copied?
China has a near monopoly on rare earths due to decades of government foresight. The country controls 70% of mining and nearly all processing of the vital minerals used in cars, data centers and defense equipment. It's one of the biggest cards China can play in trade talks with the US. When China restricted its flow of rare earths to the US earlier this year, companies shuddered. Ford had to stop production at some plants. How did China come to dominate this industry? Can companies in the US, Japan, South Korea and elsewhere replicate China's success? And what are the roadblocks? Curtis Moore, senior vice president at uranium-miner Energy Fuels, joins John and Katia to break down the global rare earth industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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First Eagle Looks Outside the US for Returns
US President Donald Trump's trade war on the world and the Federal Reserve has increased investment risk. But it's only the latest overhang for the US, with ongoing concerns about high fiscal debt exacerbated by the passage of Trump's $3.4 trillion tax and spending package. That's prompted Idanna Appio, portfolio manager and economist at First Eagle -- a $161 billion investment manager -- to look increasingly outside the US for value. In her view, investors are too complacent about these risks, as they have yet to see the full effect of tariff and other policies on growth and inflation. She joins John and Katia to talk about where she sees value in Asia, the many risks ahead and how she allocates money as a long-term investor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Hong Kong Dollar and Why Hedge Funds Target It
Investors are once again questioning the sustainability of Hong Kong's foreign exchange regime. Critics argue the Hong Kong currency's peg to the dollar, dating to 1983, no longer makes sense as the city's links with China strengthen. Authorities have already intervened at least five times this year to defend the Hong Kong dollar, spending over $11 billion. Does a peg linking the Hong Kong dollar to the Chinese yuan, or a basket of currencies, make more sense? Could hedge funds attack the currency? Investors like George Soros and Bill Ackman have tried, and failed, to break Hong Kong's dollar peg. How many more times will the government need to intervene? Carlos Casanova, senior economist for Asia at Union Bancaire Privée, breaks down Hong Kong's currency regime and what's ahead. He joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva on the Asia Centric podcast. Related news: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-15/hong-kong-defends-fx-peg-for-a-fifth-time-as-pressure-extendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Trump's Plan To Make US Shipbuilding Great Again
The decline in US shipbuilding and China's global dominance has Washington worried. Last year, the US built just seven commercial vessels, compared to more than 1,000 for China. This has also become a national security issue, with US shipyards struggling to meet the demands of the navy, facing production delays of up to 36 months. In response, President Donald Trump has proposed levying fees on Chinese built ships entering US ports. These measures likely won't be enough to revive the industry, so what else can the government do? What role can defense allies South Korea and Japan play? And how will these levies impact shipping companies and global trade? Adam Farrar, senior geo-economics analyst at Bloomberg Economics and Kenneth Loh, shipping and logistics analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, join John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva on the Asia Centric podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Some of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets, economies and companies are in Asia. Every Thursday, John Lee from Bloomberg Intelligence and Katia Dmitrieva from Bloomberg News speak with experts and newsmakers about the big ideas and trends moving money across the region.
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