The Negotiation
Despite being the world’s most potent economic area, Asia can be one of the most challenging regions to navigate and manage well for foreign brands. However, plenty of positive stories exist and more are emerging every day as brands start to see success in engaging and deploying appropriate market growth strategies – with the help of specialists. The Negotiation is an interview show that showcases those hard-to-find success stories and chats with the incredible leaders behind them, teasing out the nuances and digging into the details that can make market growth in APAC a winning proposition.
Mark Kruger on China’s Macro Outlook
In this episode of The Negotiation, host Todd Embley is joined by Mark Kruger, a Senior Fellow at the Yicai Research Institute, Centre for International Governance Innovation, and the University of Alberta’s China Institute. Formerly with the Bank of Canada for three decades, Mark now resides in Shanghai and writes regularly for Yicai Global, where he offers clear, data-driven analysis on China’s economy. In today’s episode, Todd and Mark dig into China’s macroeconomic outlook in the wake of proposed new tariffs from Donald Trump and why Mark believes the country’s 5% growth target remains achievable despite ex...
The Next China Is Still China: Rui Ma (Part 2) on Tech, Tensions & Transformation
In Part 2 of our conversation with Rui Ma on The Negotiation podcast, we explore the evolving consumer tech and innovation landscape in China beyond AI. Rui shares her analysis on the rise of local life services, humanoid robotics, and China's dominance in electric vehicles—highlighting the factors propelling growth and the remaining roadblocks.
We also zoom out to explore the broader dynamics between the U.S. and China’s tech ecosystems. Rui discusses rising tensions, how media and policy shape U.S. perceptions of Chinese tech, and whether meaningful collaboration is still possible.
Finally, Rui refl...
China’s Consumer Comeback: Jacob Cooke Breaks Down 2024 Consumption Data
In this episode of The Negotiation, we’re joined once again by Jacob Cooke, Co-founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies. Jacob walks us through the key insights from WPIC’s latest data report profiling the fastest-growing consumer segments in China’s e-commerce market. Drawing from GMV data across Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin, the report reveals a story of recovery, consumer optimism, and evolving channel strategies.
Jacob kicks off with an overview of China’s current consumption environment, highlighting a return of consumer confidence fueled by government stimulus, higher disposable incomes, and a willingness to spend. He then...
Rui Ma: The US-China AI Race (Part 1)
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Rui Ma, a distinguished expert with nearly two decades of experience working in technology and finance in the U.S. and China. Rui provides deep insights into the current landscape of AI, focusing particularly on the competitive dynamics between the U.S. and China. She discusses how geopolitical tensions and export controls have impacted China's AI industry and highlights the resilience and adaptability of Chinese AI firms.
Rui shares detailed perspectives on the state of open-source collaboration in China's AI ecosystem compared to...
From Shanghai to Hokkaido: Skiing Across APAC with Justin Downes
Justin Downes returns to The Negotiation podcast to reflect on the recently concluded ski season in China and to discuss his new role in Hokkaido, Japan. With a career dedicated to advancing winter sports in Asia, Justin has been instrumental in the infrastructural development of ski resorts in China, contributing significantly to the country’s readiness for the 2022 Winter Olympics. In this episode, Justin provides an overview of the performance of the skiing season in China, talks about the world's largest indoor skiing resort in Shanghai, and compares the ski markets of China and Japan.
Discussion Points:
...Peter Park on Growing Australian Brands in APAC
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, Todd Embley sits down with Peter Park, WPIC’s latest addition in Melbourne and a recognized expert in Australia’s consumer brand sector and the APAC e-commerce landscape. Peter delves into his professional journey, his role at WPIC, and why the firm is an excellent partner for Australian consumer brands, especially in the F&B and health supplements sectors. He shares his insights on the rising trends in these categories. He highlights the untapped potential in markets like South Korea and Vietnam, discussing strategies for Australian brands to make impactful entries into thes...
Joe Mazur: Analyzing U.S.-China Relations Under Trump's Second Term
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley speaks with Joe Mazur, Senior Analyst at Trivium China, on the complexities of the U.S.-China relationship in the early days of the second Trump administration.
Joe offers a comprehensive overview of the trade measures implemented by the U.S. since Donald Trump's re-election. He analyzes the motives behind the tariffs and their potential to escalate into more aggressive actions. He also analyzes China’s response to U.S. tariffs, which included a series of non-reciprocal measures. Joe explains their strategic significance and implications for future negotiations.
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Elyse Ribbons on KOL Marketing in China
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, Todd Embley has a captivating conversation with Elyse Ribbons, a seasoned expert in the dynamics of influencer marketing in China. Elyse shares her extensive experience and insights into the unique landscape of social media and influencer engagement in China, highlighting the intricacies of platforms like RedNote (Xiaohongshu) and Douyin.
The discussion opens with Elyse recounting her journey and how she became deeply involved with China, setting the stage for her dive into the digital marketing landscape there. She breaks down the major platforms used for influencer marketing, comparing them to...
Martech in China and How To Advertise on RedNote with David Nottingham
In this episode of the Negotiation Podcast, Todd Embley interviews David Nottingham, the EU General Manager for IPinYou, a leading Chinese martech company. David shares his journey from Southeast Asia to the ad tech world, discussing the unique challenges and opportunities within the Chinese digital ecosystem. He explains the workings of IPinYou, its proprietary technology, and how it compares to Western ad tech platforms. The conversation delves into the paid media landscape in China, the importance of audience data, and the rise of platforms like Xiao Hongxu. David also highlights the competitive nature of advertising in China and the...
From TikTok to Red Note, The Great Social Media Migration with Olivia Plotnick
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined once again by Olivia Plotnick, a seasoned expert in China marketing and the founder of Wai Social. Today, they dive into the explosion of Xiaohongshu, or “Red Note”, in the United States because of the impending ban of TikTok.
Olivia begins with a detailed overview of the current buzz surrounding "Red Note”, explaining why TikTok users are flocking to this app amidst concerns over the potential ban in the U.S. She explains the unique features of the platform and highlights the nature of interactions betwee...
