Glocalized Monopoly: When Global Scale Meets Local Hurdles
I am continuing my learning journey with Invest Nova Scotia’s Products & Services for a Global Market course with FITT. One concept that stood out to me is what I call the “Glocalized Monopoly.”
Taking a product global sounds exciting, but it’s rarely a straight line. Strategic resources, regulations, and market dynamics can tilt the balance in ways that often don’t favor the end customer.
⚖️ Lessons from the Tariff Tug-of-War
When the U.S. imposed tariffs on global partners, most developed nations eventually sought new deals. European countries mostly agreed, with many others hoping to follow suit.
But with China, the story unfolded differently. Their near monopoly on rare earth materials — supplying almost 90% of global needs — gave them leverage no tariff could overcome. Even a superpower had to step back and rethink.
This is a clear reminder: in global trade, monopolies can reshape the rules of the game.
🚧 The Hurdles to Going Global
Every step of international expansion brings new hurdles:
- Innovation & Adaptation – tweaking a product to fit local markets
- Tricky Regulations – what’s legal in one country may be banned in another (think TikTok)
- Protecting IP – patents registered in one country often have limited or no relevance elsewhere unless filed locally (for example, a U.S. patent holds no weight in China)
- Liability & Compliance – each market adds new risks
🏗️ Physical vs. Digital Products
📦 Physical: logistics and regulation dominate
💻 Digital: security, compliance, and trust are the battleground
✈️ When Monopolies Hit Home
Monopolies aren’t just a global trade phenomenon. They shape daily life at home too.
In Canada, industries like banking, telecom, and airlines are dominated by a handful of players — keeping costs high for consumers.
I experienced this personally last year. After missing a connection from Washington to Halifax, I had to pay nearly $1,100 for a one-way ticket from Toronto to Halifax. In a more competitive market, that cost wouldn’t stick.
🌍 Strategic Reflection
Going global isn’t just about exporting. It’s about redesigning your business model to thrive under multiple playbooks at once.
The “Glocalized Monopoly” shows us that power doesn’t always come from scale. Sometimes, it comes from leverage — whether it’s rare earths shaping global trade or a few companies influencing costs at home.
In 2025, the question isn’t if monopolies will affect us, but how prepared we are to adapt when global scale meets local hurdles.
The opportunities are clear:
⚡ Anticipating chokepoints in global supply chains
🎨 Adapting to local regulations without losing global momentum
🔑 Building resilient strategies that reduce dependence on monopolistic forces
Reflection point: Where do you see “glocalized monopolies” shaping your industry — and how will you adapt to overcome them?
🤝 Let’s Collaborate
I’m an entrepreneur and business growth consultant based in Canada. Alongside experimenting with AI in animation, I help media, animation studios, and technology-driven businesses grow through:
- 📺 FAST channel distribution & media partnerships
- 💻 Digital transformation & platform adoption
- 🌍 International market expansion (Canada, US, Asia, LATAM)
- 🤝 Strategic partnerships & growth consulting
If your studio or business is exploring how to adapt, diversify, or scale globally, I’d be glad to connect.
👉 Subscribe to my newsletter on entrepreneurship, media, AI, and creative growth: iamgrt.kit.com