Time ripe for Global South to step up

The tectonic shifts in global trade are not limited to Washington and Beijing — their ripple effect is shaking the foundations of economies across the Global South.

China, once dismissed as the "world's factory", has evolved into the anchor of many developing economies. Its Belt and Road Initiative has brought infrastructure where no one else would invest. Its markets have become critical destinations for commodities, textiles, and electronics from countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kenya, and Peru. For many, China is no longer just a partner — it is the engine pulling them forward.

But trade wars don't recognize nuance. Tariffs levied on China will have a ripple effect. When supply chains falter, it's not just factories in Guangzhou that will go dark — it's also the port in Colombo, the garment line in Dhaka, and the mining town in Zambia. The US might target China, but the collateral damage lands squarely on the developing world, endangering jobs, currency stability, foreign investment, and the fragile hope of industrialization.