The Weekly Briefing from Capital Economics

At the end of one of Lenin’s “weeks when decades happen”, senior economists from Capital Economics briefed clients on the implications of the news that China is retaliating aggressively to Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs plan, including whether Europe could follow suit and how much more pain is in store for markets. In this edited extract from that briefing, Neil Shearing, Mark Williams, Andrew Kenningham and Jonas Goltermann tackle everything from what China has just done to why the dollar has been acting strangely to what could push Brussels to fight back hard against the White House's reciprocal tariffs.Events and analysis referenced in this podcast:Watch: Trump’s reciprocal tariffs – China retaliates and the market’s responsehttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/drop-trumps-reciprocal-tariffs-china-retaliates-and-markets-responseRead: China hits back, hardhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/china-economics-update/china-hits-back-hardRead: Answering your questions about Liberation Day tariffshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/global-economics-update/answering-your-questions-about-liberation-day-tariffs

There’s a “whiff of stagflation” around the US economy – and that’s even before Donald Trump rolls out his reciprocal tariffs plan. Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing hops off a plane from New York and onto The Weekly Briefing from Capital Economics to give his take on the latest US consumption and price data, to preview March payrolls and to talk about what this all means for the US and global macro outlook. He’s joined by Jonas Goltermann, our Deputy Chief Markets Economist, who explains what all of this means for US markets exceptionalism.Also on this week’s episode, our China Activity Proxy is our long-running proprietary read of what’s really happening with Chinese economic activity. Leah Fahy from our China team is on to discuss what the latest read of this widely followed indicator says about the trajectory for Chinese growth in 2025. Analysis referenced in this episodeThe beginning of the end of US exceptionalism?https://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/asset-allocation-update/beginning-end-us-exceptionalismGlobal Economic Outlook: Trade war to dampen, not derail, global growthhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/global-economic-outlook/global-economic-outlook-trade-war-dampen-not-derail-globalData: China Activity Proxyhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/data-and-charts/china-activity-proxyCAP: Weak start to the year for China’s economyhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/china-activity-monitor/cap-weak-start-year-chinas-economy

Could a ‘Mar-a-Lago Accord’ fix what ails the US balance of payments? Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing is on the show this week to tackle the various ideas around what the Trump administration could do to address long-standing global imbalances. He also warns that uncertainty around the Trump trade agenda may not dissipate with the release of the reciprocal tariffs plan on 2nd April and explains how this is all feeding into central bank uncertainty about the policy path ahead. Also on the show, Deputy Chief UK Economist Ruth Gregory talks about what to expect from Rachel Reeves’ upcoming fiscal statement, but also discusses the Chancellor’s spending challenges in a more dangerous world that demands a forceful UK security posture. And Senior EM Economist Liam Peach explains resurgent risks around Turkey’s economy and markets after the arrest of President Erdogan’s key political rival plunged the country back into crisis.  Analysis and events referenced in this episode:Europe Outlook: Zeitenwende!https://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/europe-economic-outlook/europe-outlook-zeitenwendeGlobal Drop-In: The Fed, ECB and Bank of England March meetingshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/global-drop-fed-ecb-and-bank-england-march-meetingsUK Drop-In: Spring Fiscal Forecast reaction – Macro and market implications of Reeves’ statementhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/uk-drop-spring-fiscal-forecast-reaction-macro-and-market-implications-reeves-statementData: UK Employment Indicatorhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/data-and-charts/uk-employment-indicatorEmerging Europe Weekly: Turkey fallout, Polish rate outlookhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/emerging-europe-economics-weekly/emerging-europe-weekly-turkey-fallout-polish-rate

Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing discusses what the latest signals from the US economy say about recession risk. He talks about what the coming week’s retail sales data might say, and how they might swing the debate around a downturn. Neil also previews the coming week’s Fed decision, a haul of start-of-the-year China data and explains why talk of increased defence spending won’t mean an automatic boost for economies.Also on the show, Senior Global Economist Ariane Curtis talks about why we don’t think Donald Trump’s policy agenda will have an impact on the global economy over the long term. She talks about how the ranking of the top 10 biggest economies could change between now and 2050 and which are set to benefit most from the rollout of AI. Analysis and events referenced in this episode:Event: Drop-In - The Fed, ECB and Bank of England March meetingshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/global-drop-fed-ecb-and-bank-england-march-meetingsData: China Activity Proxyhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/data-and-charts/china-activity-proxyRead: Will defence spending turbocharge economic growth?https://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/global-economics-focus/will-defence-spending-turbocharge-economic-growthDrop-In: Is US equities exceptionalism dead?https://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/drop-us-equities-exceptionalism-deadRead: Global megatrends will outweigh Trump disruptionhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/long-run-economic-outlook/global-megatrends-will-outweigh-trump-disruption

In light of Donald Trump's decision to push the button on tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing joins a special episode of the Weekly Briefing from Capital Economics to talk about whether this signals the start of a global trade war. He also discusses what’s coming next and whether signs of US economic weakness could prompt a shift in the White House's trade strategy.China Economics Head Julian Evans-Pritchard, Deputy Chief North America Economist Stephen Brown and Chief EM Economist William Jackson are also on the show to talk about the economic implications for China, Canada and Mexico, and how their governments might respond. Events referenced in this episode:Global Drop-In: Trump tariffs hit China, Mexico and Canada – Macro and market implicationshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/global-drop-trump-tariffs-hit-china-mexico-and-canada-macro-and-market-implicationsChina Drop-In: 2025 NPC – Setting policy goals in a trickier global environmenthttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/china-drop-2025-npc-setting-policy-goals-trickier-global-environment

In the latest Capital Economics Weekly Briefing, Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing breaks down just how the policy uncertainty emanating from the Trump administration is – and isn’t affecting – the global economy. He also previews the February US employment report and whether Musk’s layoffs will impact the national labour market and the opening of this year’s National People’s Congress in Beijing.Also on the show, what’s the view of Trump’s tariff threats from India? Deputy Chief EM Economist Shilan Shah calls from Mumbai after a week of meetings with business, government and media to talk about why Narendra Modi’s administration thinks it can dodge this bullet, as well as the macro environment and RBI response. Analysis and events referenced in this episode:Could uncertainty weigh on the global economy?https://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/global-economics-update/could-uncertainty-weigh-global-economyChina Drop-In: 2025 NPC – Setting policy goals in a trickier global environmenthttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/china-drop-2025-npc-setting-policy-goals-trickier-global-environmentCAP: Official data underplays China’s 2024 weaknesshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/china-activity-monitor/cap-official-data-underplays-chinas-2024-weaknessIndia Weekly: Tariff manoeuvres, RBI shifts priorities, the long-run viewhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/india-economics-weekly/india-weekly-tariff-manoeuvres-rbi-shifts-priorities-long-run

It's been an extraordinary week in geopolitics, with direct US-Russia talks, a war of words between Washington and Kyiv and Europe swept by fears about the end of the US security backstop. But how much has really changed? Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing and Chief Europe Economist Andrew Kenningham are on the Weekly Briefing from Capital Economics to talk about separating the reality from the headlines. They discuss intensifying strains between the US and Europe, the constraints on any breakdown in relations, global economic fracturing and the outlook for European defence spending and how it will be funded.Also this week, in an exclusive excerpt from our recent client briefing on the issues around the Ukraine war, Senior EM Economist Liam Peach talks about what a potential peace deal could mean for the region’s economies and how US-Russia relations are set to evolve. Analysis and events referenced in this episode:Explore: Global economic fracturinghttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/key-issues/fracturing-global-economyDrop-In: German election 2025 – The new government’s domestic and global challengeshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/drop-german-election-2025-new-governments-domestic-and-global-challengesEM Drop-in: EM financial risk update – The state of sovereign, bank and FX vulnerabilitieshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/em-drop-em-financial-risk-update-state-sovereign-bank-and-fx-vulnerabilities

Why did markets greet the latest White House tariffs announcement so warmly? Deputy Chief Markets Economist Jonas Goltermann is on The Weekly Briefing from Capital Economics to talk about the influence of Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs plan on investor sentiment and discuss where the much-vaunted 'Trump trade' goes from here. The episode’s main item is all about Germany. With voters in the euro-zone’s biggest economy heading to the polls on 23rd February, Andrew Kenningham and Elias Hilmer from our Europe team talk about what the next government could look like. They address whether the anticipated governing coalition will have the appetite to overhaul the country’s stalled growth model, and how Germany will fare in a world increasingly shaped by Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.Analysis and data referenced in this episode:Euro-zone Drop-In: German election 2025 – Macro and market implicationshttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/events/euro-zone-drop-german-election-2025-macro-and-market-implicationsGerman economy post-election: from bad to not much betterhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/europe-economics-focus/german-economy-post-election-bad-not-much-betterData: Euro-zone Debt Sustainability Monitorhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/data-and-charts/euro-zone-debt-sustainability-monitorThe slow agony of Germany’s auto industryhttps://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/europe-economics-focus/slow-agony-germanys-auto-industry

Neil Shearing, Group Chief Economist at Capital Economics, dives into a week packed with political and economic drama. He evaluates Donald Trump's trade policies and their surprises, discussing how the US labor market differs from Europe's struggles. Leah Fahy, a China economist, teams up with Shilan Shah to reveal how China is reshaping the industrial landscape by taking market share from low-end emerging market manufacturers, challenging traditional economic models. The conversation offers crucial insights into global trade tensions and economic disparity.

Donald Trump ended weeks of speculation on Saturday with the formal announcement of 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and 10% on China. As those countries respond, Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing joins David Wilder on this special episode of The Weekly Briefing from Capital Economics to talk about whether this marks the beginning of a global trade war. Neil addresses the immediate economic threats to Canada and Mexico, but also explains why these tariffs end the chance of any more rate cuts from the Fed. He also discusses what further action Trump could take against US trade partners – not least China – and the broader risks to the global trading environment. For more on the Trump policy agenda and its macro implications, see this dedicated page:https://www.capitaleconomics.com/key-issues/trumps-second-term