The Future of Manufacturing: International Trade and Investment

Powering the Future: Energy x Manufacturing

Energy and manufacturing are colliding - reshaping how businesses operate, invest, and grow. In this episode, Emerson Holmes and Megan Ridley-Kaye explore how the future of energy and manufacturing are increasingly interconnected - and more complex than ever. At its core, manufacturing depends on energy, but delivering energy that is secure, reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective is becoming increasingly challenging. Businesses across the globe are operating in a period of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, with fluctuating input costs, evolving regulation, and shifting policy landscapes making long-term planning and investment decisions more difficult. At the same time, regional differences - particularly between the U.S. and Europe - are shaping how energy transition, security, and industrial strategy are approached. The discussion highlights the growing importance of resilience and optionality, with companies diversifying supply chains and energy sources to manage risk and maintain continuity. Rising energy demand, driven by AI, data centres, electrification, and advanced manufacturing, is placing additional strain on infrastructure and accelerating the need for innovation and investment. Against this backdrop, businesses must balance competing priorities - cost, sustainability, security, and regulation - while remaining agile in a rapidly changing environment. Ultimately, success will depend on the ability to adapt quickly, invest strategically, and build future-ready operations.

The Future of Manufacturing: International Investment Arbitration

Emerson Holmes and Markus Burgstaller explore how companies can protect major cross‑border investments in an increasingly complex geopolitical and regulatory environment. Focusing on investor‑state treaties and arbitration, the discussion unpacks what these protections are, how they work in practice, and why they matter most for capital‑intensive, long‑term investments in sectors such as manufacturing. Along the way, the conversation touches on expropriation, regulatory change, national security, tariffs and real‑world case studies, offering practical insight for businesses investing hundreds of millions – or more – into new markets.

The Future of Manufacturing: China Export Control on critical minerals

Emerson Holmes and Stephanie Sun provide invaluable insights into the vital importance of critical minerals such as rare earth elements, gallium, and graphite - key components driving today’s technology and national security. Their discussion sheds light on China’s dominant role in processing these minerals and the resulting geopolitical challenges, offering listeners a clear understanding of the risks and opportunities in this complex market. By exploring recent trade developments and global strategies to diversify supply chains, this podcast equips businesses with essential knowledge to navigate and prepare for the evolving landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead in a critical sector that impacts industries worldwide.

The Future of Manufacturing: International Trade and Investment

This episode of the "Future of Manufacturing" podcast, hosted by Emerson Holmes at Hogan Lovells, explores the evolving landscape of global manufacturing with a focus on the impact of U.S. tariffs and sanctions. Joined by partners Joshua E. Kurland and Mayur Patel, both experts in international trade and investment, the discussion delves into the policy drivers behind recent U.S. tariffs, their intended goals, and the practical effects on manufacturers both within the United States and globally.