Asia-Pacific bearing the brunt of shortages Roughly 80% of crude oil and LNG passing through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for Asia, making the region especially vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East. The scale of impact varies market-to-market: Beyond energy, the impact is compounded by second-order supply disruptions. The possibility of fertiliser shortages is a particular concern – India, […]
Here are our top 10 considerations for APAC investors in 2026 Related insight: For more on APAC regulatory fragmentation and where risks may emerge, see Flint’s take on private market dynamics and early engagement strategies in the region — Private Market Developments in APAC — Now is the time to engage 2. Competition enforcement is becoming more […]
This month has seen the launch of TrumpRx – the US Government’s new direct-to-consumer platform with the stated aim of delivering ‘most favoured nation’ drug prices to the US after decades in which Americans paid much more for its medicines than most of the rest of the world. US drug pricing continues to be a […]
It is tempting to hope that after a period of intense geopolitical and trade turbulence, the dust is finally settling. But this would be a dangerous assumption to make. While the pace of headline tariff announcements may have slowed, the financial risks and opportunities created by the changing global trade landscape are just beginning to […]
2025 - uncertain, fast-moving and unpredictable 2024 provided a comparatively stable regulatory environment for dealmakers. With more than half the world’s population going to the polls, policy reform was on hold, while legislators focused on winning domestic elections in an uncertain international outlook. 2025 is shaping up differently. Global politics is changing. Adversarial relationships are […]
Over 2 billion people – a quarter of the world’s population – will be affected by elections in 2024, including in the US, EU, UK, Taiwan, India and Russia. Some will have significant global implications, though in many cases the full effects will not play through until 2025. This blog explores the upcoming elections and […]
Over the next 25 years, demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth minerals will increase sixfold if countries are to reach their emissions reduction targets. Critical minerals are essential to the production of low-carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic cells and wind turbines. The UK’s Integrated Review Refresh, released yesterday, announced […]
UK National security clearance – appetite for intervention likely to grow, particularly on China, tech, and private equity transactions In just over a year since the introduction of the National Security and Investment Act (NSIA), the Government has blocked five transactions. Proportionally, this is a much higher hit rate than comparable regimes. With Westminster broadly […]
A wider look at how a Labour administration could reshape investment, regulation and deal scrutiny is set out in Policy outlook for investors 2023+, including implications for valuations, leverage and political risk. Take-private deals will increase Take-private deals are back in the spotlight, driven in part by lower valuations on the London markets, the impact […]
Russia’s war against Ukraine and the West’s response will have structural long-term economic consequences. A month after the beginning of the war, we take stock of some of the big questions around the macroeconomic impact and the global financial system. Russia and Europe will pay a heavy price A global recession is unlikely. The IMF […]
We asked some of Flint’s experts for their take on the wider and longer-term impacts of the Ukraine crisis. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had an immediate impact on energy prices and security, spurring Western countries to cut or reduce their reliance on Russian gas. This has long-term implications for the energy sector. Nations are scrambling […]
Flint has expanded its global footprint with the opening of a new office in Australia. Our growing team will strengthen Flint’s advice to clients on political, policy and regulatory developments across a range of sectors. As a global firm, the team in Australia will draw on and integrate the experience of Flint colleagues across Asia, Europe and the UK, bringing an international perspective to local issues. Leading the expansion is Flint Partner Katie Whitting, who returns […]
As COP30 in Brazil approaches, Flint experts unpack what this pivotal summit means for global climate action and international business. In this episode, our panel explores the key themes and initiatives shaping COP30 — from the next round of national emissions targets (NDCs) to the implications for global investment, carbon markets, climate finance, and sustainable […]
23 Sep, 2025
Trade under Trump: tariffs, trade agreements and what comes next
President Trump has followed through on the trade agenda he laid out at the start of his term, seeking to “rebalance” global trade in favour of the United States. On 7 August, a global regime of reciprocal tariffs came into force, marking a dramatic shift in the trade landscape. Alongside this, the administration has imposed […]
On Wednesday, 2 April, President Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10% on all US imports with specific tariffs for individual markets. Some of the highest rates were imposed on Asian jurisdictions. Countries across APAC have responded in a variety of ways: China has imposed retaliatory tariffs, Vietnam has offered to remove all tariffs, and […]
In this podcast, our experts assess the results of the German federal elections held on Sunday, 23 February. The new government faces considerable domestic headwinds, with a challenging economic outlook, waning international competitiveness, and significant investment needed to stimulate growth. Our experts discuss how the new government might tackle these challenges and the outlook for the business […]
In this podcast, our experts take stock of Trump’s first month in office and discuss the implications for the US’s political, security and economic relationships around the world. The Trump Administration has moved quickly, making a range of announcements about domestic policy, deregulation, tariffs, and foreign affairs. Even if this momentum slows, it is clear […]
The first half of 2024 has seen several major international elections. Outwardly, international politics after these elections looks reasonably unchanged. In addition, the situation in Ukraine has to some extent stabilised, there has been no major conflagration in the Middle East, and the temperature has been controlled between the US and China. But beneath the […]
Russian forces are on the offensive again. Putin has made significant changes to his defence and security team and is strengthening Russia’s relationship with China. In the West, US support has resumed after months of delays, but upcoming US and EU elections mean that long-term support will remain a challenge. Switzerland will host a […]
In this podcast, our experts discuss the prospects ahead in 2024 as the military position of Ukraine worsens and the challenges to European security grow starker. We examine the situation on the ground, the military and political drivers of the conflict in 2024, how Western support will be affected by the US and EU elections […]
In the second instalment of Geopolitics for Business, Flint director and former Australian diplomat Katie Whitting chairs a panel of Flint experts to discuss the outcome of the recent BRICS summit; they debate the significance of enlargement of the BRICS, whether China can succeed in turning this group into a counterweight to the G7, and what these […]
