Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Global trade is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in decades. Despite tariff tumult, geopolitical tensions and AI acceleration, global trade continues to grow. New research from the McKinsey Global Institute finds international trade isn’t slowing down, it’s just realigning.
McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal and McKinsey Partner Jeongmin Seong explore the forces reshaping global trade, investment and business strategy in 2026. They explain how much of that trade growth came from AI, how China’s role is evolving, and the rise of ASEAN economies as global supply chain connectors.
Then, McKinsey Senior Partner Kate Smaje joins Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly to answer your questions on AI from our latest McKinsey Live Webinar (based on the second edition of the book “Rewired”). She shares how leaders can keep up with AI’s evolution, its ability to drive EBITDA, key KPIs, and the benefit that some leaders are still overlooking.
Timestamps:
2:15 - Why global trade is still growing despite geopolitical turbulence
7:45 - How AI is driving trade and investment
8:35 - The U.S. and China’s evolving roles in the global economy
9:25 - How ASEAN economies are reshaping supply chains
11:25 - How leaders should be reading FDI signals
13:05 - Strategic decision-making in volatile markets
16:35 - The competitive advantage of adaptability
19:45 - AI transformation and leadership
23:15 - How leading companies are generating returns from AI
This episode has been adapted from our McKinsey Live webinar series: mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-live/webinars.
See mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
About the guests:
McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal: mckinsey.com/our-people/shubham-singhal
McKinsey Partner Jeongmin Seong: mckinsey.com/our-people/jeongmin-seong
McKinsey Senior Partner Kate Smaje: mckinsey.com/our-people/kate-smaje
Watch the “Rewired to Win” webinar: mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-live/webinars/rewired-to-win-reimagining-the-enterprise-with-tech-and-ai
Order “Rewired”: mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/rewired
Subscribe to our channel: mck.co/YouTube
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
***Find us on***
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
Global trade is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in decades. Despite tariff tumult, geopolitical tensions and AI acceleration, global trade continues to grow. New research from the McKinsey Global Institute finds international trade isn’t slowing down, it’s just realigning.
McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal and McKinsey Partner Jeongmin Seong explore the forces reshaping global trade, investment and business strategy in 2026. They explain how much of that trade growth came from AI, how China’s role is evolving, and the rise of ASEAN economies as global supply chain connectors.
Then, McKinsey Senior Partner Kate Smaje joins Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly to answer your questions on AI from our latest McKinsey Live Webinar (based on the second edition of the book “Rewired”). She shares how leaders can keep up with AI’s evolution, its ability to drive EBITDA, key KPIs, and the benefit that some leaders are still overlooking.
Timestamps:
2:15 - Why global trade is still growing despite geopolitical turbulence
7:45 - How AI is driving trade and investment
8:35 - The U.S. and China’s evolving roles in the global economy
9:25 - How ASEAN economies are reshaping supply chains
11:25 - How leaders should be reading FDI signals
13:05 - Strategic decision-making in volatile markets
16:35 - The competitive advantage of adaptability
19:45 - AI transformation and leadership
23:15 - How leading companies are generating returns from AI
This episode has been adapted from our McKinsey Live webinar series: mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-live/webinars.
See mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
About the guests:
McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal: mckinsey.com/our-people/shubham-singhal
McKinsey Partner Jeongmin Seong: mckinsey.com/our-people/jeongmin-seong
McKinsey Senior Partner Kate Smaje: mckinsey.com/our-people/kate-smaje
Watch the “Rewired to Win” webinar: mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-live/webinars/rewired-to-win-reimagining-the-enterprise-with-tech-and-ai
Order “Rewired”: mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/rewired
Subscribe to our channel: mck.co/YouTube
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
***Find us on***
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
