Will the focus on Greenland attract international investors?

Summary

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Marketplace Morning Report

Episode: Will the Focus on Greenland Attract International Investors?
Date: January 15, 2026
Host: William Lee Adams
Network: BBC World Service

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Episode Overview

This episode covers the economic and geopolitical focus on Greenland and whether recent global attention—sparked by high-profile U.S. interest and the region’s vast mineral wealth—will attract more international investment. The episode also reports on new U.S. tariffs on chipmakers, the booming global K-Beauty industry, and significant market updates from the UK and Sweden.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spotlight on Greenland’s Investment Potential

• Denmark, the U.S. & Greenland Talks:
  Talks between the three parties described as “constructive,” but there remain significant disagreements over the Arctic island’s future (00:01).
• Resource Wealth & Investors:
  • Greenland is notable for its rich reserves of critical minerals.
  • Only two active mines exist on the island. The Canadian company Amarok, which runs a gold mine, has seen its share price double since last summer.
  • CEO Elder Olufsen expresses optimism despite political uncertainties, citing rising investor attention since President Trump spotlighted Greenland (00:45).
• Quote – Impact of U.S. Focus:

  “Ever since 2017, when Trump put the focus on country, it brought the attention of investors all around the world for this huge resource opportunity.”
  —Elder Olufsen, CEO Amarok (00:45)

• Investor Confidence:
  Olufsen believes most investors expect a cooperative solution between all stakeholders (“U.S., Denmark, and the allies in the North Atlantic,” 00:45–01:24).
• Critical Minerals & Strategic Importance:
  There’s a “race for critical minerals and energy that needs to be developed to secure the Western world,” making Greenland key to future supply chains.
• Quote – Cooperation as the Solution:

  “It’s a cooperation angle, like has happened between Denmark and US now for more than 80 years… I think we’ll see an amenable agreement to all parties.”
  —Elder Olufsen (01:26)

• Shared Goals:
  All sides want to balance defense, resource development, and autonomy. The consensus is that clear communication and mutual interest will lead to resolution soon (01:26–02:07).

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2. U.S. Tariffs on Chipmakers

• Breaking News – AI Chip Tariffs:
  President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on sales of AI processors by Nvidia and AMD to China—these companies now must reroute chips through the U.S. for inspection before reaching Chinese buyers (02:07–02:57).
• Quote – Unusual Arrangement:

  “President Trump has been very clear that he wants a cut from the sale of these advanced computing chips to China. That is 25%. It’s a very unusual arrangement.”
  —Archana Shukla, BBC (02:26)

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3. Market and Economic Updates

• UK GDP:
  The UK economy posted 0.3% growth in November—a 5-month high—helped by recovery at Jaguar Land Rover after a major cyber attack (02:57).
• Ericsson Layoffs:
  The Swedish telecom equipment company plans to lay off 1,600 employees (02:57).

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4. The Meteoric Rise of K-Beauty

• South Korea’s Global Influence:
  South Korea is now the world’s second-biggest cosmetics exporter, behind only France (03:33).
• Social Media & Skincare:
  K-Beauty’s formulas and sensorial experience are highly optimized for social media virality, driving global sales and trends.
• Quote – Digital Optimization:

  “South Korean technology in terms of the formulation, the texture experience and the overall sensorial and the experiential experience of the product… skincare has really, really been optimized for social media.”
  —Liah Yoo, K-Beauty Influencer (03:53)

• Market Dynamics:
  The industry’s competition keeps prices low and quality high; 30,000+ businesses compete, pushing products from concept to shelf in under six months (04:08–05:11).
• Medical Tourism & Risks:
  • Many tourists now visit South Korea specifically for skin procedures (05:29).
  • Practitioners emphasize safe, appropriate treatments and caution against excessive procedures.
• Quote – Practitioner Responsibility:

  “Even when patients bring photos of celebrities, our role is to recognize the limitations of treatments and prevent excessive procedures, making sure the outcome is safe and appropriate.”
  —Chang Young Woo, Linjang Clinic founder (06:00)

• Government Support:
  South Korea is introducing more policies and support to boost K-Beauty manufacturing and exports.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Elder Olufsen’s Optimism:
  “Ever since 2017, when Trump put the focus on country, it brought the attention of investors all around the world…” (00:45)
• Cooperation in the North Atlantic:
  “It’s a cooperation angle, like has happened between Denmark and US now for more than 80 years…” (01:26)
• Unconventional U.S. Tariff Approach:
  “That is 25%. It’s a very unusual arrangement.” (02:26)
• K-Beauty’s Social Media Edge:
  “Skincare has really, really been optimized for social media.” (03:53)
• Ethics in Cosmetic Procedures:
  “Our role is to recognize the limitations of treatments and prevent excessive procedures…” (06:00)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Greenland Investment & Geopolitics: 00:01 – 02:07
• U.S. Chip Tariffs / Global Tech Supply Chains: 02:07 – 02:57
• UK & Global Market Updates: 02:57 – 03:33
• K-Beauty Market, Trends & Medical Tourism: 03:33 – 06:28

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a brisk and insightful overview of global economic currents: the strategic race for Greenland’s minerals, escalating tech/trade tensions, market highlights from Europe, and the world’s thirst for Korean beauty products. Notable voices—corporate leaders, market analysts, and consumers—help illuminate the stories shaping markets and culture in 2026.

Transcript

[A]

Will the focus on Greenland attract international investors? Live from the uk, this is the Marketplace Morning report from the BBC World Service, I'm William Lee Adams. Good morning, Frank. But constructive. That's how the Danish Foreign Minister described talks between the us, Denmark and Greenland. Despite fundamental disagreement over the future of the Arctic island, President Trump's interest centers around defense. And Greenland is also rich in natural resources like critical minerals. There are only two active mines on the entire island. The Canadian company Amarok operates one of them, a gold mine, and it has licenses to explore large parts of the territory. Amarok shares have doubled in value since last summer. Its CEO, Elder Olufsen, is optimistic despite the current dispute.

[B]

The focus on Greenland, ever since 2017, when Trump put the focus on country, it brought the attention of investors all around the world for this huge resource opportunity that is in country now. I don't think anyone in the market believes that there won't be found a good solution to this discussion between, between us, Denmark and the allies in the North Atlantic. And so therefore, I think the focus of invested is that there will be a lot more capital coming into country, there will be a lot more investment focus because as I said earlier, this is a resource base in this race for critical minerals and energy that needs to be developed to secure the Western world with critical minerals.

[A]

So how can the situation be resolved?

[B]

I think it's a cooperation angle, like has happened between Denmark and US now for more than 80 years, and I should say Nordics and US. So these have been the strongest partners to protect the Atlantic, to protect the shipping route, to protect the resources there. So I think we'll see that relatively soon, in the next coming weeks that there will be an amenable agreement to all parties. I think it is vital to America that that is secured for the long run. So they want some autonomy of that in relation to defence, but they also want to develop the critical minerals there. Denmark wants exactly the same. I think Greenland wants exactly the same. So I think it's about making sure that the message is clear and everybody is working towards the same.

[A]

Elder Olafson, CEO of Amarok and Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on chip makers Nvidia and AMD as part of a deal with the technology giants to take a 25% cut of sales of their AI processors to China. The BBC's Archana Shukla explains how this is going to work.

[C]

President Trump has been very clear that he wants a cut from the sale of these advanced computing chips to China. Then that is 25%. It's a very unusual arrangement. So Nvidia, which is the largest seller of these chips or even AMD they all rely on TSMC in Taiwan for nearly 90% of all their products. Now Trump says that all the chips that will be sold to China will have to be rerouted to the US for third party quality checks before being transshipped to Chinese companies. And that is where this 25% tariff will apply.

[A]

Archana Shukla there. Alright, let's do the numbers. The UK economy grew by 0.3% in November to hit a five month high that was driven partly by a rebound in production at Jaguar Land Rover following a massive cyber attack. And in Sweden, telecom's equipment group Ericsson says it will lay off some 1600 employees. Now you may know of the global obsession around Korean skincare and makeup known as K Beauty. South Korea has surpassed the US to become the world's second largest cosmetics exporter after France. The BBC's Suranjana Tawari has been looking into the industry.

[D]

Search for Korean skincare on any social media platform and you'll find tens of thousands of videos, posts and reviews.

[E]

By moisturizing, you're helping the skin cells to rapidly repair themselves.

[D]

Beauty influencer Liah Yoo has more than a million followers on YouTube and regularly posts about K Beauty. She explains why it's so popular.

[E]

South Korean technology in terms of the formulation, the texture experience and the overall sensorial and the experiential experience of the product. And skincare has really, really been optimized for social media.

[D]

It's a booming business. Last year, South Korean companies sold $10 billion worth of beauty products to customers around the world. There's no doubt K Beauty is riding the K culture wave and products are so popular they're now stocked in global retailers in the heart of Seoul. K Beauty is absolutely everywhere. I'm standing in one of the South Korea's most popular retailers. It sells everything to do with K Beauty, and it's estimated that around 30,000 businesses are making these types of products. And it's not just the big Korean names that are successful in such a crowded market. Fierce competition has triggered price wars, but that also means customers have access to high quality products at affordable prices. An elaborate ecosystem in South Korea keeps costs down and means companies can launch products quickly, going from concept to shelf in under six months. Something that can take Western brands years.

[C]

My pores. I know they're kind of bad.

[D]

Tourists are drawn to the promise of flawless skin at South Korea's beauty megastores, but also at local clinics which offer more intensive procedures. Kira and Marcus are both tourists from the US who are trying out skin procedures at this Seoul clinic.

[C]

I think it's almost like a tourist attraction now. You know, you almost kind of have to try it once you come here.

[B]

It's like really cheap and kind of everybody does it. And, you know, it's okay for guys to do it, too.

[D]

But the global obsession means people are sometimes willing to take risks when it comes to cosmetic treatments. Those providing services say their job comes with additional responsibilities. Chang Young Woo is the founder of the popular Linjang Clinic in Seoul.

[A]

Even when patients bring photos of celebrities, our role is to recognize the limitations of treatments and prevent excessive procedures, making sure the outcome is safe and appropriate.

[D]

In the heart of Seoul, billboards promoting beauty products are everywhere. The South Korean government promised policies to help manufacturing and boost exports. A vote of confidence in the industry and an investment to make sure it's growing. Global glow up continues to brighten.

[A]

That's Siranjana Tiwari reporting. And in the uk, I'm William Lee Adams with the Marketplace Morning Report from the BBC World Service. On behalf of the entire team, thanks for listening.

[F]

Hey, everybody, it's Kyle Rysdal, the host of Marketplace. It has been a year since the fires here in Los Angeles, and businesses that bur earned are still struggling.

[A]

I won't lie. I've looked. I've looked at, hey, maybe we moved the store. It wouldn't be the same hardware store.

[F]

On the ground reporting and what the year ahead has in store for business owners still recovering. Listen to Marketplace on your favorite podcast.

[C]

Apparently.