Toyota Talks - Global: Recent Episodes
Leila Aridi Afas
Guests:
- Jason Furman, professor at Harvard University; former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors under President Obama
- Steve Moore, senior economic advisor to President Trump; distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation
The Coronavirus pandemic has forced economies around the globe to practically shut down overnight. Congress worked at warp speed to pass $2.7 trillion in aid to prevent the economy from collapsing, but there's still no clear end in sight to the spread of the virus. The deficit was $1 trillion before the crisis even began, how much higher can it go before we risk a debt crisis? Will the massive public spending lead to inflation? In this episode, we will explore the impacts of rising deficits on economic growth, the risk of inflation and whether the COVID crisis could accelerate deglobalization with two well-known economists from both the Trump and Obama Administrations.
2018 was a turbulent year for trade across the globe. From recent elections in Mexico and Brazil to Brexit and beyond, what happened over the past year and what does it mean for Toyota? As we approach 2019, how will the U.S.-China trade war play out and what should we expect from U.S.-Japan trade talks? In this episode, Donna Rhudy, star of the Drive Time Talks podcast, takes over the mic to interview Leila Aridi Afas about these hot topics.
Donna and Leila will look in the rear view mirror to explain key events in 2018. They'll also look beyond the headlights to discuss what lies ahead in the new year.
Buckle up for their virtual tour around the world!
The United States, Mexico and Canada just agreed to a new deal to replace NAFTA days after Presidents Trump and Moon signed a modified South Korea-US trade pact (KORUS). Meanwhile, the U.S. and Japan agreed to enter trade talks and the U.S. and European Union stepped up their dialogue on trade. The elephant in the trade arena continues to be the escalating tit-for-tat tariffs between the U.S. and China, which seems to have no end in sight. With this intense focus on trade it’s worth taking a pause to consider if these disputes as serious as they seem. Is the trade deficit a reliable gauge of whether we are winning or losing to our trade partners? Is the threat of Section 232 auto tariffs off the table if the U.S. signs deals with Canada, Mexico, Japan and the EU? In this episode, we will explore the connection between deficits, tariffs and taxes, how they impact the our company and economy, as well as the true benefits of trade.
During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to put “America First.” As President, he has translated that rhetoric into policy. The Administration has imposed tariffs on solar panels, washing machines, and most recently, steel and aluminum. But the biggest move may be next. The President is expected to announce actions based on an investigation of China's trade practices. As U.S. trade policy becomes increasingly protectionist, how would Beijing respond to aggressive trade actions by the United States? Could retaliation by China escalate into a trade war? In this episode, we will explore potential U.S. trade actions against China, how they could affect the bilateral relationship and the impacts on Japan and the global trading system.
On November 3rd, President Trump will depart for a 12-day trip to Asia with stops in Japan, South Korea and China. Addressing Kim Jong-un’s advanced nuclear and missile weapons tests will be the top priority. Despite eleven years of sanctions, North Korea has defiantly pursued its nuclear ambitions and it is now at the stage of fine-tuning weapons and developing long-range delivery systems. Can the international community prevent this from happening or will the world have to learn to live with a nuclear North Korea, as was the case with Russia? Security is the greatest concern, but what are the risks of a potential conflict to trade and supply chains? In this episode, we will explore the reasons behind North Korea’s sustained provocations, the international community’s response and what Toyota should watch out for.
After years of market-oriented reforms and rapid economic growth, Brazil is facing an unprecedented corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff and corruption charges against current President Michel Temer. How did this crisis emerge in Latin America’s largest economy and how are Brazil’s institutions responding? In this episode, we’ll learn what lies ahead for Brazil and how Toyota can manage turbulence in the country where it launched full-scale overseas production in 1958.
More than 23 years after it became law, the North American Free Trade Agreement is in the spotlight. President Trump declared his intent to renegotiate NAFTA and with Wilbur Ross recently confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, those efforts may move forward quickly. But what does the trade deal do and is it really that important? In this episode, an outside expert describes NAFTA's impact on the auto industry and Toyota executives describe its impact on our operations.
In our first episode of Toyota Talks – Global, David Rothkopf explains the seismic shifts we’re experiencing around the world – from politics to economics - and the factors influencing them. He provides a glimpse into a hyper integrated future and begins to answer the $64,000 question: How can governments and companies such as Toyota harness the powerful opportunities that exist for the taking?
We may not be reaching the end of globalization, but we are headed towards a watershed moment. Buckle up, it’s going to be quite a ride!