Bob Brewer, Author at Braumiller Law Group

Cargo ship navigating waterways with security icons and data flow.

Waterways, Canals, and Straits, and What Clear Passage Means to Global Trade Survival

July 30, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

There are about 200 straits worldwide, but only 18–20 of them actually matter for global trade, and 9 are considered truly critical choke points. So, these are the straits/canals where closure would cause (and is currently causing) massive global economic shock: Strait of Malacca, Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal, Panama Canal, Bab elMandeb, Strait of Gibraltar, Bosphorus Strait, Danish Straits, and of course, the ever-impending blockage of the Taiwan Strait.

Shaking hands with American and Canadian flags, symbolizing trade relations.

Trade Alert: Trump Administration Announces 50% Tariffs on Certain Canadian Products Effective August 19

July 21, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

On July 20, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will impose additional 50% ad valorem duties on a range of Canadian products, effective 12:01 a.m. ET on August 19, 2026. The announcement came via three separate proclamations that claimed Canadian discrimination against U.S. commerce in dairy products, alcoholic beverages, and motor vehicles, respectively.

A US Departure From the USMCA. Is That Even Worthy of Discussion?

June 22, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

Yes, regarding this particular topic I am immediately surrounded by all of those external voices, even internal, telling me of how ridiculous it would be for the US to follow through and pull out of the USMCA. My response of course is noting that I probably wouldn’t have given the topic a second thought had the President of the United States not mentioned that this was a consideration regarding the upcoming July 2026 USMCA review.

Walmart’s Diversification of Sourcing From China – A Relationship Decades in the Making, So Breaking Up is Really Hard to Do

May 22, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

Walmart has been in China for about 30 years, entering the market in 1996 when it opened its first Walmart hypermarket and Sam’s Club in Shenzhen. There are now 342 retail stores, 279 Walmart Supercenters, and 63 Sam’s Clubs in China.

Goodbye USA – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s MiddlePowers Playbook is Officially in Play, Part 2

March 20, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

One of my recently published articles covered the World Economic Forum Davos speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where he summoned the middle powers of the earth to unite against the US forces who are demanding that they take a knee and capitulate, per Governor Newsom who was in attendance handing out knee pads. (Really) Well, to say the least, that’s not happening by even the longest stretch of anyone’s imagination.

After Two Decades of Failing to Come to an Agreement “The Mother of All Deals” is Done – Kudos to India and the EU

January 28, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

As of 1/27/2026, India and the EU have finalized a free trade agreement described by both sides as the “mother of all deals” that slashes tariffs, opens markets, and creates a combined economic region of roughly two billion people. This FTA stands as one of the most consequential global trade realignments in years, driven in part by U.S. tariff pressure and a shift in strategy toward diversifying one’s supply chains.

Hot Topics in International Trade – The Davos Speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney The Middle Powers Playbook and a Global Trade Realignment in the Making

January 26, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

For whatever reason, if you missed the spectacle created by President Trump on the world stage recently in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum, you really need to pay close attention now to the fall out. Top business executives in global economies were watching and probably also wondering just who the hell was going to stand-up to the U.S. pressure campaign, and that’s where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stepped up to the mic and delivered a speech that sent shockwaves across continents.

Global Chaos and Global Trade – The New World Disorder and the Ensuing Economic Carnage

January 22, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

On any given morning so far in 2026, looking around the globe, one could easily surmise that chaos rules, and the world of trade as result is on fire. The global landscape is filled with trade barriers, tariffs, sanctions, and export controls, from microchips and dairy to lumber, steel and aluminum. We have seen where geopolitical disputes often escalate into trade wars, where countries impose tariffs or targeted restrictions on each other’s goods, but an actual invasion, that’s on a totally different level regarding how it affects trade and global economies.

The Upcoming USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC Review The Options are: A Renegotiation, A Few Revisions, or a Formal Exit

January 10, 2026

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

The exit of a country, such as the U.S., from the USMCA, well, that’s just crazy, right? Afterall, it’s a powerhouse of a trade agreement between the three nations. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, the United States conducts over $1.3 trillion in annual trade with Mexico and Canada under the USMCA framework and supports roughly 17 million jobs across North America.

The Automotive Industry, China’s Semi Grip on Supply Chains, and General Motors 2027 Exit Strategy for Suppliers (Is a clean break even possible?)

November 20, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

General Motors (GM) has instructed thousands of its suppliers to phase out sourcing parts and materials from China by 2027. The exit strategy began in early 2024, with the directive gaining momentum in spring of this year, 2025. This directive is part of GM’s broader strategy to enhance supply chain resiliency and reduce exposure to geopolitical risks, particularly amid escalating, or let’s just say, continuously fluctuating, U.S.–China trade tensions.

China’s Global Port Investments – It’s About Control and the Reshaping of Trade Flows

September 28, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

China owns outright or has majority control in 17 overseas ports globally, according to recent estimates. However, its broader footprint is much larger with 129 port projects worldwide that involve Chinese investment, construction, or operational control. 115 of these are active, spanning every continent except Antarctica, which is next.

Rare Earth Minerals-Part 2 – Enter Greenland’s Global Significance

September 28, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

It’s been more than a little concerning to the Trump Administration as these deposits have everything to do with international security as they are needed in the production of the very high-end microchips. So, now that it has been discovered that Greenland apparently has one of the largest deposits on the planet, Trump has stated that we will have Greenland, one way or another. While he hasn’t explicitly committed to military action, he’s made it clear that he won’t rule it out.

Sanctions, Bans, and Tariffs How The U.S. is Fueling Chinese Innovation

September 8, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

Just look at the current landscape of how China has been innovating through various trade related sanctions, bans, and tariffs. Necessity has always been the mother of invention, and in the case of China and the never-ending western pressure it has also been the catalyst in many cases for that which ultimately drives them to create and overcome.

As the U.S. Pushes For More Protectionism, Global Trade Turns to Another Obvious Option- China

August 3, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

Here we are. August 1st, 2025, and the media is now publishing what facts they have on the various trade deals as well as those that have yet to come to fruition, in addition to the new announcement of imposed global tariffs which range anywhere from 10% to 41%, Yes, the trade world is on fire from a U.S. perspective. CNN, my “go-to” is reporting that the Trump Administration is imposing tariffs on over 60 countries around the globe.

Rare Earth Minerals, and China’s Global Dominance

June 9, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

If I heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times, China is the sourcing capital of the world. I’ve also repeated this statement at least 400+ times in many conversations over the years regarding global trade. China, it’s also where the global market goes for rare earth minerals, among thousands of other necessary elements for a veritable plethora of life’s essential things.

All Is Fair in Love and War, But Apparently Not Trade. Closing the Gap on Global Trade Deficits with the U.S. (A monumental task for a variety of reasons)

April 7, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

As a broad stroke of tariffs are now levied against various countries to close the trade deficit gap, without truly examining the reason(s) for the imbalance, there will most likely be automatic retaliatory tariffs in a lose-lose situation. The White House stated that currently 50 countries are on the phone with the President, but that is hard to confirm. US consumers will ultimately pay the price, as well as SME’s.

Chaebols May Wabble but They Don’t Fall Down How Samsung Became 23% of South Korea’s GDP

March 10, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

Chaebols are large, family-owned business conglomerates that play a significant role in South Korea’s economy. These conglomerates have a significant influence on the South Korean economy and are often involved in various government decisions. This rather close relationship has resulted in not just mutual support, but the government providing subsidies, loans, and tax incentives.

All Is Fair in Love and War, But Apparently Not Trade Closing the Gap on Global Trade Deficits with the U.S.

March 6, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

In addition to the tariffs on Mexican, Canadian and Chinese imports, Trump is also set to announce a litany of what he deems to be reciprocal tariffs across the globe come April 2, the day after the conclusion of an investigation the President ordered. These tariffs are aimed at balancing trade with other countries, some of which have higher tariff rates on US exports than the US imposes on imports from those nations.

Options to the Panama Canal Perhaps?

February 27, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

Prior to the origination of the plans for the Panama Canal vessels of trade had few options of getting goods from Europe and Asia to N. America. One was to sail around the southern tip of South America (Cape Horn) adding months to the journey if they were lucky enough to make it through what is known as one of the most hazardous shipping routes in the world, where it’s estimated that over 800 ships have been lost over the last couple of centuries of trade.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Building Global Infrastructure Regarding Trade, It’s a Major Competition

February 10, 2025

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

In 2024, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) saw significant financial engagement. Preliminary data indicates that China invested approximately $92.4 billion in various projects across the 149 countries involved in the BRI. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) encompasses numerous large-scale infrastructure projects across the globe.

Bob Brewer