
Trade finance’s breakout moment
From Critical thinking by Mercer, a Marsh business
March 25, 2026 · 18 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the rise of trade finance as alternative lenders fill the gap left by traditional banks in short-term lending.
As traditional banks step back from short-term lending due to regulatory pressures, a significant gap has opened up in global commerce, and alternative lenders are stepping in. In our latest episode of the Critical Thinking podcast, Deborah Wardle sits down with Gerard Sheehan and Gavin Dredge to unpack why trade finance is becoming one of the fastest-growing areas in private credit. They explore the origins, challenges, and opportunities of trade finance, and why it has become interesting fo...
People in this episode
Host: Deborah Wardle
Guests: Gerard Sheehan, Gavin Dredge
Topics covered
- trade finance
- short-term lending
- alternative lending
- private credit growth
- global commerce
- financial challenges
- investment opportunities
Keywords
- trade finance
- short-term lending
- alternative lenders
- private credit
- global commerce
- financial regulations
- investment opportunities
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: traditional banks, alternative lenders, private credit
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