James Gikas.
Global Trade, Power, and Policy
Explained Through Conversation
Understanding the Systems That Shape The World Economy
Trade Wars & Global Power
This theme explores the rise of trade wars, economic nationalism, and geopolitical tension—examining how power struggles between nations influence global commerce and international relations.
Tariffs, Policy, and Economic Impact
Focused on tariffs and regulation, this topic breaks down how government policies affect businesses, consumers, and supply chains, translating complex economic decisions into tangible outcomes.
The Future of International Trade
This theme looks ahead, questioning whether the world is moving toward cooperation or division—through discussions on supply chains, emerging markets, and the evolving rules of global trade.
PODCAST
A podcast series on politics, economics, and power. Interviewing supply chain managers in Asia to get their insight on the landscape of tariffs.
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 1: The U.S. Tariff Shock and Asian Logistics Rebuild
ft. Christ Unertl, VP RIM Logistics ltd.
In my first interview, I spoke with Mr. Chris Unertl, Vice President of RIM Logistics Ltd, a global company that specializes in international and domestic freight forwarding, warehousing, distribution, and supply chain management. Mr. Unertl has been living and working in the logistics industry for over twenty years. As I interviewed him, we spoke about how tariffs have caused shipment companies to shift their investments to different locations and how they have been forced to pay the tariff bill when customers forfeit a shipment. Finally, we discussed the effects of President Trump’s recent 12.5% tariff executive order on major US trading partners and whether tariffs will remain a valuable “weapon” in a trade war for the GOP moving forward.
Ep. 2: Tariffs vs Supply Chain: What's Actually Happening in Asia
ft. Randy Heward, Founder/CEO TMAX ltd.
I spoke with Randy Heward, founder and CEO of TMAX Ltd, a Hong Kong and Shenzhen-based supply chain management business that focuses mainly on toys but also on electronics and power tools. Randy has been working in Asia for over 20 years and has shared his insights on how tariffs will affect the toy industry in the Asia-Pacific region in the future. Furthermore, we discussed the strategies TMAX has implemented to mitigate the implicit and explicit costs of tariffs, as well as whether US tariffs will stimulate greater competition in the toy industry.
ABOUT
James Gikas - Podcast Founder and Interviewer
Hello! My name is James Gikas. I’m a senior at Hong Kong International School, and I am currently interested in economics and international trade. With this website, I hope to unpack the complexities regarding global issues, such as trade wars and tariffs, by learning from experts in the shipping and logistics industry. Through my podcast interviews, I hope to gain their insights into how shifts in recent tariff policies have affected their businesses and supply chains, and translate those insights into easily accessible, educational conversations.
