Expect significant new tariffs on Chinese imports and moderate levies on goods from other nations , as President-elect Donald Trump rolls out his protectionist agenda. However, with his preference for chaotic policymaking and sudden shifts , there’s uncertainty on how soon these import taxes will actually hit. Dubbed “ Tariff Man ,” Trump aims to use tariffs both strategically and tactically . He’s mentioned taxing all Chinese goods up to 60% and potentially setting 10%-20% tariffs on imports globally , but details on these plans remain vague . Key players within Trump’s team are divided: Robert Lighthizer , a staunch tariff advocate, sees permanent duties as crucial to balance US trade , while others, like billionaires John Paulson and Scott Bessent , view tariffs as temporary leverage. Trump’s previous administration had mixed feelings, especially on national security-related trade limits , which he sometimes dismissed, favoring an “open for business” approach. High-profile busin
Thailand's Social Security Fund (SSF), worth $77 billion, plans to invest $11.6 billion in global private assets as part of a significant strategic overhaul aimed at improving its historically low returns. The fund, which supports healthcare, unemployment benefits, and pensions for 25 million workers, has struggled with average returns of less than 3% over the past decade, far below its potential.
Petch Vergara, a member of the SSF’s investment board and a former Goldman Sachs executive, emphasized that the fund's reliance on low-risk domestic investments is unsustainable. If the current strategy continues, the fund risks bankruptcy by 2051.
The move comes as Thailand’s population continues to age rapidly, with one-fifth of its 66 million people now over 60. The SSF’s new board, composed of elected members for the first time, approved an investment framework that will reduce the weighting of low-risk assets from 70% to 60% and increase higher-risk investments from 30% to 40% by 2027.
Of the higher-risk investments, 15% will be allocated to global private assets such as private equity, credit, and hedge funds. The fund aims to generate higher long-term returns and improve the fund’s sustainability in light of Thailand’s growing elderly population and rising pension demands.
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