Spanning the economic gap between Asia and Latin America
Politically, 2016 was a volatile year. The electoral changes in Europe, North America, and Asia have created uncertainties for international trade and investment in 2017. It’s clear that there’s a growing sense of nationalism and anti-internationalization where the masses feel they are missing out on the benefits of globalization despite solid evidence that it has lifted millions out of poverty, lowered the costs of consumer goods, and connected people and cultures across borders. Recently, Brexit, Trump’s rise to the U.S. presidency, and China’s economic slowdown have stirred global economic anxieties and raised questions about the continuation of pro-trade policies. While some larger economies may be retrenching, emerging economies now have an opportunity to implement progressive and innovative trade initiatives to connect with non-traditional trade partners and diversify their markets. Companies with innovative products and services looking for export and growth opportunities can fill supply chain niches. While the world focuses on presidential tweets and the viability of the European Union, Asian companies can take the reins and blaze a new trail in Latin America as traditional commercial partners pull back to their home fronts. By the same token, companies in Latin America can and should look westward to Asian growth markets rather than continuing to focus their gaze northward.
