Saturday Mornings International News Review: Tariffs, Tensions & Tokyo in Shorts; Global Shifts Reshaping Asia This Week

🌍 This week’s International News Review unpacks the geopolitical and economic developments shaping markets and policy across Asia. MoneyFM 89.3 Saturday Mornings Show host Glenn van Zutphen talks with Ethan Wu, Asia Business & Finance Editor at The Economist. We begin in Washington, where a panel of judges has struck down President Trump’s attempt to impose sweeping 10% blanket tariffs—a ruling that could reshape global trade flows and corporate strategy at a time of rising protectionism. Then, we look ahead to the highly anticipated Xi–Trump meeting, a pivotal moment for US–China relations with implications for supply chains, technology access, and regional stability. From there, we turn to Japan, where Toyota’s latest earnings reveal a US$4 billion hit from the war in Iran—but also a surprising bright spot: EV sales are set to more than double next year. With 58% of new cars registered in Singapore now electric, Toyota’s pivot matters more than ever to local drivers and the broader mobility ecosystem. And finally, a cultural shift in Tokyo: the government is ditching strict office dress codes and encouraging workers to wear shorts amid the energy crunch. What does this say about changing workplace norms in Asia?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.