South Korean shipyards are busier than they’ve been in years. Seoul and Washington are working to finalize a new trade deal that will include a $150 billion commitment to help stimulate the US shipbuilding industry.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Weilun Soon about whether the US-South Korea shipbuilding alliance could help President Trump achieve his US shipbuilding dreams, what South Korea stands to gain from the investment – and if it will be enough to disrupt China’s maritime dominance.

Read more: South Korea’s $150 Billion Bet on Trump’s Shipbuilding Dream

South Korean shipyards are busier than they&rsquo;ve been in years. Seoul and Washington are working to finalize a new trade deal that will include a $150 billion commitment to help stimulate the US shipbuilding industry.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Weilun Soon about whether the US-South Korea shipbuilding alliance could help President Trump achieve his US shipbuilding dreams, what South Korea stands to gain from the investment &ndash; and if it will be enough to disrupt China&rsquo;s maritime dominance.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-08-22/us-backed-south-korean-shipbuilding-plans-aim-to-keep-china-at-bay">South Korea&rsquo;s $150 Billion Bet on Trump&rsquo;s Shipbuilding Dream</a>

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

Big Take Asia

Trump Has a Shipbuilding Dream. Can South Korea Make It a Reality?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/225e2fbb-8f66-4fda-91a0-b34501574809/transcript

This week, the US and India announced a surprise new trade deal that slashes tariffs on Indian goods. It has one major possible catch: a commitment from India to stop buying cheap Russian oil — which will be easier said than done. 

On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg’s Sudhi Ranjan Sen joins host Oanh Ha to break down the deal and explain what it means for India’s economy and its relationships with the US, Russia and China.

Read more: 

Trump’s Surprise Trade Deal With India Resets Fractured Ties - Bloomberg 

Further listening:

India Wanted to Become The World’s Toymaker. Then Tariffs Happened 

India Won’t Stop Buying Russian Oil. Now It’s Paying the Price.

This week, the US and India announced a surprise new trade deal that slashes tariffs on Indian goods. It has one major possible catch: a commitment from India to stop buying cheap Russian oil &mdash; which will be easier said than done.&nbsp;
On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Sudhi Ranjan Sen joins host Oanh Ha to break down the deal and explain what it means for India&rsquo;s economy and its relationships with the US, Russia and China.
Read more:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-03/trump-s-surprise-trade-deal-with-india-resets-fractured-ties">Trump&rsquo;s Surprise Trade Deal With India Resets Fractured Ties - Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;
Further listening:
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ec/podcast/india-wanted-to-become-the-worlds-toymaker-then/id1746141911?i=1000740482985">India Wanted to Become The World&rsquo;s Toymaker. Then Tariffs Happened</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/india-wont-stop-buying-russian-oil-now-its-paying-the-price/id1746141911?i=1000720803869&amp;l=ru">India Won&rsquo;t Stop Buying Russian Oil. Now It&rsquo;s Paying the Price.</a>

Why the US-India Trade Deal Hinges on Russian Oil

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1a198771-0de9-4a95-a16a-b3e801758851/transcript

Japan is home to the world’s oldest population and a growing share of the country’s financial assets – about $2 trillion – are controlled by seniors who are showing signs of cognitive decline.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks with Bloomberg’s Alice French about the staggering “dementia money” at risk, the toll of frozen accounts and the haphazard solutions that serve as a stark warning to the rest of the world. 

Read more: Japan's 'Dementia Money' Problem Puts Trillions at Risk - Bloomberg

Further listening: 
The Rise of Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ and Its Political Shift to the Right

Hosted byProduced by Naomi Ng, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Reported by Alice French, Kentaro Tsutsumi; Edited by Patrich Hirsch, Emma O’Brien; Fact-checking by Yang Yang, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

Japan is home to the world&rsquo;s oldest population and a growing share of the country&rsquo;s financial assets &ndash; about $2 trillion &ndash; are controlled by seniors who are showing signs of cognitive decline.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Alice French about the staggering &ldquo;dementia money&rdquo; at risk, the toll of frozen accounts and the haphazard solutions that serve as a stark warning to the rest of the world.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-02/japan-s-dementia-money-problem-puts-trillions-at-risk">Japan's 'Dementia Money' Problem Puts Trillions at Risk - Bloomberg</a>
Further listening: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rise-of-japans-iron-lady-and-its-political/id1746141911?i=1000730668887&amp;l=es-MX">The Rise of Japan&rsquo;s &lsquo;Iron Lady&rsquo; and Its Political Shift to the Right</a>
Hosted by Produced by Naomi Ng, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Reported by Alice French, Kentaro Tsutsumi; Edited by Patrich Hirsch, Emma O&rsquo;Brien; Fact-checking by Yang Yang, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

Japan’s $2 Trillion ‘Dementia Money’ Cliff

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/594a8bb2-ef1f-4f1f-bdc6-b3d8014f3cb0/transcript

Amid Iran’s brutal crackdown on protesters, President Trump threatened to slap a 25% tariff on its trading partners, including China and India. This comes as both countries try to deescalate their own trade wars with the administration.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg’s Daniel Ten Kate about why the path to punishing Iran’s government runs through Asia – China and India in particular. 

Read more: Trump Risks Imploding China Trade Truce With Iran Tariff Vow

Amid Iran&rsquo;s brutal crackdown on protesters, President Trump threatened to slap a 25% tariff on its trading partners, including China and India. This comes as both countries try to deescalate their own trade wars with the administration.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Daniel Ten Kate about why the path to punishing Iran&rsquo;s government runs through Asia &ndash; China and India in particular.&nbsp;
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-13/trump-risks-upending-us-china-trade-truce-with-iran-tariff-vow">Trump Risks Imploding China Trade Truce With Iran Tariff Vow</a>

Punishing Iran Could Alienate China and India — Again

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/250bdb47-24f3-46b1-8b3b-b3d101579ece/transcript

Trump Has a Shipbuilding Dream. Can South Korea Make It a Reality?

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