Global trade is experiencing a tectonic shift, says UNCTAD's Rebeca Grynspan

September 24, 2025

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The Trump administration’s tariffs have added uncertainty and complexity to global trade, particularly burdening emerging and developing economies.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan calls this a “tectonic shift in the trade regime,” noting that negotiations have replaced a potential tariff war.

She warns that vulnerable countries are being hit hardest often facing higher tariffs than major US trading partners despite posing little threat. Grynspan urges the US government to reconsider these trade measures to avoid devastating impacts.

Watch more Global Stage coverage from the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly here: gzeromedia.com/globalstage

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Global trade is experiencing a tectonic shift, says UNCTAD's Rebeca Grynspan

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Global trade is experiencing a tectonic shift, says UNCTAD's Rebeca Grynspan

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Author and tech analyst Dan Wang joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World Podcast to talk about the similarities between the US and China, and what Washington can learn from Beijing’s race to build the future.

On Ian Explains, Ian Bremmer breaks down how the US and China are both betting their futures on massive infrastructure booms, with China building cities and railways while America builds data centers and grid updates for AI. But are they building too much, too fast?

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$1 trillion: Tesla shareholders approved a $1-trillion pay package for owner Elon Musk, a move that is set to make him the world’s first trillionaire – if the company meets certain targets. The pay will come in the form of stocks.

When it comes to global warming, the hottest ticket in the world right now is for the COP30 conference, which runs for the next week in Brazil. But with world leaders putting climate lower on the agenda, what can the conference achieve?

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan argues that reform must begin with recognizing how much the world has changed since 1945.

Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.