Guatemala-based Megapaca is the number one importer of used clothing from the United States. The company has seen massive success in secondhand retail in Latin America, and now they have their sights set on expanding to the US.

Bloomberg’s Adam Minter walks us through this complex, data-driven operation. And Megapaca's back-office manager Jose Rivera talks about the company’s ethos and its goal to become the leading seller of used clothing in the world.

Read more: The Massive Guatemalan Operation That Wants to Sell Americans Their Old Clothes Back

Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK

Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net.

Guatemala-based Megapaca is the number one importer of used clothing from the United States. The company has seen massive success in secondhand retail in Latin America, and now they have their sights set on expanding to the US. Bloomberg’s <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/authors/AROF-Y8Q8ZE/adam-minter">Adam Minter</a> walks us through this complex, data-driven operation. And Megapaca's back-office manager Jose Rivera talks about the company’s ethos and its goal to become the leading seller of used clothing in the world.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-09-15/megapaca-wants-to-sell-used-clothing-back-to-americans">The Massive Guatemalan Operation That Wants to Sell Americans Their Old Clothes Back</a>
Listen to The Big Take podcast every weekday and subscribe to our daily newsletter: <a href="https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK">https://bloom.bg/3F3EJAK</a> 
Have questions or comments for Wes and the team? Reach us at bigtake@bloomberg.net.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

Megapaca Is Making Millions Off The Clothes You Toss Away

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f0852656-7394-48a1-9693-b08b002e9b74/transcript

As the war in Iran draws in more countries, it’s had unlikely benefits for one of Iran’s key allies: Russia.

President Trump has eased some sanctions on Russian oil in his efforts to alleviate the oil squeeze created by the conflict. Meanwhile, the allyship between Russia and Iran has deepened as both countries have shared battlefield intelligence.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with US defense and intelligence reporter Natalia Drozdiak about how Russia could benefit from the Iran War — and what it could ultimately mean for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Read more: Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ Guides Iran’s Strikes in Widening War

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Natalia Drozdiak; Edited by Naomi Shavin.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

As the war in Iran draws in more countries, it&rsquo;s had unlikely benefits for one of Iran&rsquo;s key allies: Russia.
President Trump has eased some sanctions on Russian oil in his efforts to alleviate the oil squeeze created by the conflict. Meanwhile, the allyship between Russia and Iran has deepened as both countries have shared battlefield intelligence.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with US defense and intelligence reporter Natalia Drozdiak about how Russia could benefit from the Iran War &mdash; and what it could ultimately mean for Russia&rsquo;s war in Ukraine.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-12/putin-s-hidden-hand-guides-iran-s-strikes-in-widening-conflict?srnd=undefined">Putin&rsquo;s &lsquo;Hidden Hand&rsquo; Guides Iran&rsquo;s Strikes in Widening War</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Natalia Drozdiak; Edited by Naomi Shavin.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Russia Could Be the Biggest Winner of the Iran War

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fa15f24b-1443-4847-abd4-b40f01541e2f/transcript

By any account, Chen Zhi's ascent was meteoric. At a young age he founded a real estate company in Cambodia, which quickly became the sprawling Prince Group conglomerate. But beneath this legitimate facade, Chen allegedly ran a vast criminal network, building an empire on scams, human trafficking and high-level political protection.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s David Ramli look into the rapid rise and sudden downfall of an alleged criminal mastermind.

Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take Asia podcast today

Read more: The Tycoon Who Had a Secret Life as an Alleged Scam Kingpin

Further listening: Inside Southeast Asia’s Most Notorious Crime Hub

By any account, Chen Zhi's ascent was meteoric. At a young age he founded a real estate company in Cambodia, which quickly became the sprawling Prince Group conglomerate. But beneath this legitimate facade, Chen allegedly ran a vast criminal network, building an empire on scams, human trafficking and high-level political protection.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, Host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg&rsquo;s David Ramli look into the rapid rise and sudden downfall of an alleged criminal mastermind.
Never miss an episode. Follow <a href="https://link.podtrac.com/jw5umzee">The Big Take Asia podcast</a> today
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-10/how-cambodia-s-alleged-scam-kingpin-chen-zhi-made-billions-built-global-empire">The Tycoon Who Had a Secret Life as an Alleged Scam Kingpin</a>
Further listening:&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-southeast-asias-most-notorious-crime-hub/id1746141911?i=1000665940390">Inside Southeast Asia&rsquo;s Most Notorious Crime Hub</a>

Weekend Listen: The Rise and Fall of an Alleged Scam Boss

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e38640f7-5a0b-4582-9c83-b40b01850e62/transcript

From online banking and social media to digital ads and AI subscriptions, digital services are the fastest-growing segment of global trade. Unlike physical exports, they’ve been subject to little regulation, taxation or tariffs. Until now.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg global trade editor Brendan Murray and David Gura dig into the rising tensions over the almost $5 trillion in digital services sold across borders each year, why a consequential WTO meeting could change everything and what it means for the global tariff war.

Read more: Trump Starts Rebuilding Tariff Protections Targeting China, Europe 

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brendan Murray; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

From online banking and social media to digital ads and AI subscriptions, digital services are the fastest-growing segment of global trade. Unlike physical exports, they&rsquo;ve been subject to little regulation, taxation or tariffs. Until now.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg global trade editor Brendan Murray and David Gura dig into the rising tensions over the almost $5 trillion in digital services sold across borders each year, why a consequential WTO meeting could change everything and what it means for the global tariff war.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-12/trump-and-301-tariffs">Trump Starts Rebuilding Tariff Protections Targeting China, Europe</a>&nbsp;
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brendan Murray; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Your Streaming Subscription Could Be the Next Trade Battlefield

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a64cac8d-e5de-4a75-8788-b40c015f0273/transcript

Megapaca Is Making Millions Off The Clothes You Toss Away

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