Global Trade Weathers Tariff Storm as MEA Emerges as Strategic Hub, Citi Report
Citi's 2026 Supply Chain Financing report finds global trade resilient despite US tariffs reaching 16.8%. MEA recorded a 52% rise in shipments from North and East Asia, while China's exports to the region grew 61%. AI adoption in trade finance rose 18 percentage points to 36% of large corporates. Citi also piloted bill of exchange tokenization with PwC and Solana, compressing settlement from days to minutes.
Saudi Arabia Fears Yemeni Houthis Might Blockade Crucial Red Sea Strait
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by the U.S Navy has escalated fears of retaliation by Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis across a narrow strait in the Red Sea called the Bab al-Mandeb
