Marketplace Morning Report

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

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.

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).

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)

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).

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.

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)

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

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.