WeekWise LXXIV
#74 WW: Tariffs Update, Microplastics Found in Plant Leaves, and the Return of the Dire Wolf.
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I'm Adolfo Güell, and every week, I spend countless hours selecting curated content—whether it's posts, news, or podcasts—centered around my passions: technology, macroeconomics, innovation, and more. This newsletter is my way of sharing the top-notch content I've come across.
I hope this weekly newsletter introduces you to exciting new content and talented creators.
If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact me at adolfoguell@substack.com.
My top picks 🔝
For several years now, tensions between the U.S. and China have been reshaping global trade. But in the weeks since Donald Trump returned to office, the situation has escalated sharply—transforming long-standing rivalry into an all-out economic confrontation.
This month, President Trump announced a 34% tariff on Chinese imports as part of his broader “reciprocal trade” strategy. China responded with a matching 34% tariff on U.S. goods. The U.S. then raised its tariffs to 104%, prompting China to escalate further to 125%. In response, the U.S. delivered the sharpest blow yet—raising tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, marking the most aggressive phase of the trade war so far.
This fight isn’t just about consumer goods anymore—technology is at the center. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. banned companies like NVIDIA from selling advanced AI chips to China, a policy still in place under Trump. As a result, U.S. firms are losing access to massive markets, while China pushes to develop its own alternatives.
At the same time, American consumers are beginning to feel the impact. The removal of the de minimis exemption for low-cost imports means that platforms like Shein and Temu now face high duties, likely pushing prices higher for millions of shoppers.
This economic standoff is no longer just about tariffs—it’s about control over strategic industries, from semiconductors to AI, energy, and electric vehicles. What began as a push for “fair trade” has evolved into a much broader struggle for global technological and economic leadership.
Will other nations—particularly in Europe—follow Trump’s lead on tariffs, or push to de-escalate and preserve trade ties with China? How will businesses and global supply chains adapt to an increasingly fragmented world economy? And what happens if retaliatory measures continue to escalate, dragging more sectors and countries into the conflict?
One thing is clear: the U.S.–China economic divide is deepening, and we’re entering a new chapter—one that could define the next decade of global commerce.
Sources: Trump Tariffs Live [Reuters] & Other sources
Until recently, most research on microplastic pollution focused on soil and water contamination. But new findings suggest that airborne microplastics can be absorbed directly through plant leaves, introducing a new pathway by which plastic particles enter our food supply.
The study shows that microplastics—tiny particles released from sources like synthetic clothing, tire wear, and industrial emissions—travel through the air and settle on leaf surfaces. Plants then absorb these particles through microscopic pores, allowing them to move through the plant’s vascular system and accumulate in edible parts like leaves, fruits, and grains.
This discovery has significant implications. For humans, ingesting microplastics through food may trigger inflammation, disrupt the gut microbiome, and introduce toxic chemicals into the body. In plants, microplastics can impair photosynthesis, reduce chlorophyll levels, and slow down growth.
Urban areas, especially gardens near busy roads, show higher concentrations of airborne microplastics compared to rural environments. Additionally, plants with rougher or more textured leaves tend to trap more particles than those with smooth surfaces.
This new evidence adds to growing concerns about how deeply plastic pollution has infiltrated ecosystems—and how difficult it will be to contain its impact on health and agriculture.
Source: Airborne microplastics enter plant leaves and end up in our food [nature]
In previous discussions, we've explored the ambitious endeavors of Colossal Biosciences, particularly their initiatives aimed at de-extinction. Recently, the company announced a groundbreaking achievement: the birth of three genetically engineered wolf pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—that exhibit traits reminiscent of the extinct dire wolf, which disappeared over 10,000 years ago.
The Science Behind the Revival
To achieve this, Colossal's scientists analyzed ancient DNA extracted from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull of dire wolves. By comparing these genomes to those of modern gray wolves, they identified 20 key differences across 14 genes responsible for the dire wolf's distinctive features, such as larger size, broader skull, and white coat. Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, they modified gray wolf endothelial progenitor cells to express these traits. The edited nuclei were then inserted into enucleated ova, developed into embryos, and implanted into surrogate domestic dogs, leading to the birth of the three pups.
Debates and Ethical Considerations
While Colossal hails this as the first successful de-extinction, some experts remain cautious. Critics argue that the resulting animals are genetically modified gray wolves rather than true dire wolves, given the significant genetic divergence between the species.
Sources: The Science Behind the Return of the Dire Wolf [Time] & US company resurrects the extinct dire wolf, or some version of it [Reuters]
Some other reads I enjoyed…
I heard this internal memo of mine is being leaked right now, so here it is [Tobi Lutke on X]
On April 17th the U.S. Trade Representative's office is expected to impose fees of up to $1.5M per port call for ships made in China [Ryan Peterson on X]
Investing in Krea [a16z]
Today, I’m excited to launch the Advanced Manufacturing Company of America [Jai Malik on X]
Want to stay young? Peter Diamandis says survive the next 10 years [TechCrunch]
US Giant Robinhood Is Coming to Europe [Connecting the dots in FinTech]
OpenAI just made its first cybersecurity investment [TechCrunch]
🇪🇸 Rental collapse in Catalonia: 58% of the supply of apartments vanishes and prices rise 5.5% [El Economista]