#07: Tariffs, Treaties & Power Shifts in Global Trade

Every product you touch today has crossed a border: your phone, your shoes, the coffee that started your morning. Behind each journey is a policy decision that shapes how quickly, affordably and reliably that product reaches you. 

Trade doesn’t just move through ports. It moves through policy. 

In this episode of Moving the World, Steven Hussain, senior vice president and head of government affairs at Prologis, and Safiya Ghori-Ahmad, senior director of global public affairs at APCO Worldwide, unpack how a new era of geopolitics is reshaping trade—and what it means for companies operating across borders. 

In this episode:  

• Why today’s tariffs and industrial policies aren’t a temporary blip, but a long-term, bipartisan shift in how countries approach trade. 
• How India’s rapid rise, digital infrastructure and “strategic autonomy” are reshaping global power dynamics and the role of the Global South. 
• How companies are rethinking supply chains from “China + 1” to “China + many,” building resilience across multiple regions and markets. 
• Why long-term relationship building with governments is essential in a world of regional blocs, shifting alliances and emerging technologies like AI. 

Today’s experts: 

Steven Hussain is senior vice president and head of government affairs at Prologis. In that capacity, he leads the organization's efforts to engage the public sector to deepen relationships and advance Prologis' business objectives. Before joining Prologis, Steven served in various senior leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors focused on economic development, education and municipal policy.  

Safiya Ghori-Ahmad is senior director of global public affairs at APCO Worldwide, where she helps companies navigate the intersection of business, policy and international markets. Based in Washington, D.C., she brings a decade of U.S. government experience, including roles at the State Department and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and deep expertise in South and Central Asia. Before joining APCO, Ghori-Ahmad was a senior managing director at McLarty Associates, advising global investors and multinational companies on government affairs and market-entry strategy. Ghori-Ahmad is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a founding member of Chief D.C. and serves on several advisory boards, including the Clinton School of Public Service.  

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Prologis.