Trade Wars, Currency Chess & Diplomatic Gymnastics: The Global Trade Week That Was
17.10.2025
(Week ending 5 October 2025 — verified, sourced, and only mildly caffeinated)
If you thought the global trade landscape was finally calming down… think again.
This update is just from the week ending 5 October, but another round of tariff moves, currency plays, and strategic alliances that kept policymakers — and supply chains — on edge.
Here’s what mattered most:
- Tariffs & Tantrums: The U.S. turned up the tariff heat again, sending shockwaves through markets. China and the EU rushed to reconfigure trade routes while India’s central bank warned of “permanent damage” to global growth.
- Deals & Drama: The EU is negotiating at full speed — from Mercosur to India — while India opened new trade talks with Qatar to diversify faster than ever.
- Currency Chess: India’s rupee made quiet but strategic moves, expanding cross-border settlements with the UAE and Indonesia — a subtle shift in the global financial balance.
- Commodities on Edge: Australia faced a tough week as China reportedly paused iron ore imports from BHP, reminding everyone that even long-term trade relationships can go cold.
- Still Standing (Barely): UNCTAD data shows global trade up 3.5% year-on-year — resilience in the face of chaos. But between tariffs, wars, and “friend-shoring fatigue,” 2025 is testing every nation’s agility.
The Bottom Line:
Global trade isn’t slowing down — it’s evolving under pressure.
Survival now depends on who can adapt fastest, think strategically, and maybe keep an extra espresso on standby.