BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Beyond The Ballot Box  >  What Trump's Tariffs Reveal About Neoliberalism and Dollar Dominance

What Trump's Tariffs Reveal About Neoliberalism and Dollar Dominance

Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Economist

10-Apr-25 15:00

What Trump's Tariffs Reveal About Neoliberalism and Dollar Dominance

For the past several decades, most of the world has been part of the neoliberal economic model. It burst onto the mainstream with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in the late 70s and 80s but gained even more prominence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the emergence of the United States of America as the global hegemon. This era was underpinned by the free flow of capital across borders, low tariffs and the financialisation of the economy. 

But last week something changed when US President Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day” and hit every state with a slew of tariffs. Markets around the world reacted with shock and economists and diplomats from all corners of the globe are working overtime. 

So what does this all mean for neoliberalism? 

We speak to Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram. He’s a prominent academic, economist and public intellectual known for his extensive work in development economics and social justice.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  politicsinternationalgovernment

Tags:  dollar dominanceneoliberal economic modelthe bigger picturebeyond the ballot boxneoliberalismpresident donald trumptariff





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Carlos Casanova, Senior Economist, UBP tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Alex Muscatelli of Fitch Ratings discusses the global economic outlook.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Ng Zhu Hann of Tradeview Capital discusses the effectiveness of the government's GEAR-UP programme in driving economic growth.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille LIVE

Dr. Edward Harcourt of QS Quacquarelli Symonds talks about how relevant university rankings are today.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

We break down the day’s top news with expert insights.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Michael Montesano of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute discusses what Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension means for Thailand’s government stability.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Carlos Casanova, Senior Economist, UBP tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

The Property Show

Imran Clyde of Nextdor Property Communications shares his insights on the legal aspects of property advertising.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

ALT Synergy's CEO Nash Muhammad discusses their AI platform that helps influencers and new brands create and launch compliant health supplements.

11:00 AM

The Workplace

Andy Fisher, Co-founder & Chief Happiness Officer, The Happy Consultancy Group discusses employee disengagement and how happiness can be a powerful business strategy

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

E-commerce 3.0: Forget Growth, It’s About Margins. Momentum Works' CEO Jianggan Li unpacks their 'E-commerce in Southeast Asia 3.0' report, covering the shift to profitability, platform dominance, and the impact of AI.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Dr. Edward Harcourt of QS Quacquarelli Symonds talks about how relevant university rankings are today.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

Fireflies: nature's fairy lights, yet their glow hides a tale of ecosystem health, habitat loss, and potential disappearance. With World Firefly Day just around the corner, we explore these bioluminescent beetles with guests from education, science, and conservation.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

What does a medical social worker do? How can they help patients connect to the support and resources needed? We find out.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Good Things

Malaysian artist Khabir Roslan speaks to us about his debut work, featuring installations and pieces made out of kitchen waste.

7:00 PM

Made in Malaysia

We speak to board game designer Goh Choon Ean about what makes Malaysian board games unique.

8:00 PM

Cruise Control

Should you buy an old stock electric vehicle in Malaysia? Daniel Fernandez shares what he thinks and gives some tips on how to do it.