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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1h

PS lest this be seen as some pure free trade position, I'm accepting the potential difficulties for nation states in handling global markets. As we see from various countries, it just isn't that easy to find the solutions, not least given an imperfect understanding of the issues

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1h

There's a lot of content here (plus some dubious cultural references), it is too UK / European centric, and lots can and should be debated further. Shortcomings aside, I hope taking a broader view of today can help reset stale conversations. ecipe.org/blog/the-new...

The New World of Trade – How 40 Years of Change Brought Globalisation Without Trust

Making sense of daily trade policy turbulence has become a major challenge. President Trump is just one part of a complex ever-changing picture.Stop the world to catch up is an understandable respons

ecipe.org

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1h

Simplistic single solutions like controlling immigration, wealth taxes, or deliverism don't seem likely to provide the answers to the modern world. Rather, in my view we need to rebuild confidence through new political frameworks / ideologies appropriate to today... bsky.app/profile/davi...

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8h

On the perils of centrism or deliverism in the UK and France as per @rafaelbehr.bsky.social today, my high-level take (part of a long piece on modern globalisation to be published tomorrow).

We've forgotten governments cannot deliver it all, they must make and explain choices.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1h

My argument in summary - technology driven globalisation brought unprecedented change to politics and economics driving many of today's challenges from the rise of populism to slow growth, creating an age of insecure delivery that is difficult to escape

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1h

"How 40 years of change brought globalisation without trust" - my latest long read (based on a talk given this morning) seems immediately relevant given further US-China tensions over global supply chains.

Global markets are a reality --->

ecipe.org/blog/the-new...

The New World of Trade – How 40 Years of Change Brought Globalisation Without Trust

Making sense of daily trade policy turbulence has become a major challenge. President Trump is just one part of a complex ever-changing picture.Stop the world to catch up is an understandable respons

ecipe.org

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Reposted by David Henig

Chris Dillow @chrisdillow.bsky.social · 4h

Two things can both be true:
1. Many people don't invest as much in equities as they reasonably could.
2. Using the tax system to encourage them to do so would do nothing to boost growth, other than enriching high-charging active fund managers.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h

Someone didn't get the memo that President Trump isn't doing trade cooperation.

Camille Gijs @camgijs.bsky.social · 4h

China’s rare earths export restrictions dominated the trade ministerial in Denmark — further squeezing the EU between Washington and Beijing.

The EU should "reach out to the Americans," Danish FM Rasmussen told me.

"We are more or less in the same situation. We should use the G7 framework."

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Reposted by David Henig

Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 6h

Colin and I are quoted in this repeatedly because we gave evidence for it last year.

I'm today rolling my eyes at the supposedly pro-EU voices going 'neener, neener, you left!' at the settlement that was agreed *for* NI (not by it) and which the EU absolutely bears partial responsibility for now.

Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 7h

New HoL committee report on NI post Brexit. A surprising amount of agreement across a broad spectrum of witnesses that much more could be done to smooth the process of applying EU law in NI. Key recommendations for UKMis (FCDO in Brussels) & the UK Govt:

publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...

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Reposted by David Henig

Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 6h

Excellent report from Lords NI Scrutiny Cte on Windsor Framework: complexity is a problem for long-term viability of arrangements

committees.parliament.uk/committee/76...

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 7h

Globalisation without trust = slow growth but with surprising resilience so far to shocks such as US trade policy, covid or Brexit...

But with a lot of downside risks as governments weaponise trade and tech bros try to take over the world

www.ft.com/content/8176...

The world economy in an age of disorder

It is dangerous to have confidence in what lies ahead

www.ft.com

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 7h

Agree with this, and the current working generation expect it will all have been taken away by the time they reach pensionable age.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8h

Very much the subject I write more about, as you'll see tomorrow.

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8h

Thinking big picture, do we need a new social contract for an globalised ageing society?

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8h

Centrist governments around the world are discovering they aren't being thanked just for being more realistic than right-wing populists. A warning for Keir Starmer indeed. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The crisis engulfing Emmanuel Macron contains a warning for Keir Starmer | Rafael Behr

The French president dominated the centre ground but has failed to build a legacy there. Labour is in danger of doing the same, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

www.theguardian.com

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8h

On the perils of centrism or deliverism in the UK and France as per @rafaelbehr.bsky.social today, my high-level take (part of a long piece on modern globalisation to be published tomorrow).

We've forgotten governments cannot deliver it all, they must make and explain choices.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8h

Regulatory alignment with the EU is about to become a UK-wide issue. We have heard nothing about how the UK government intends to put this into operation. Not hard to see that there will be problems ahead.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 9h

But overall, trade outside of the single market is complicated, trade agreements are complicated, regulations similarly, but perceptions are wrong that this can be simplified when it comes to the UK and the EU. Burdens can be shifted, for sure, but this can never be easy

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 9h

The report might also help (we can but hope) puncture the confidence sometimes bordering on arrogance with which UK officials have been approaching the latest EU negotiations - for these will be as per Northern Ireland but for the UK as a whole - and secrecy will lead to bad outcomes.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 9h

Particularly interested (and pleased) to see complaints about the Trader Support System lifted from common knowledge among specialists to featuring in a Parliamentary report where government is expected to respond.

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 9h

House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee first report published.

"labyrinthine complexity of the institutional architecture of the Windsor Framework makes it impossible for stakeholders to navigate"

A detailed report.

committees.parliament.uk/committee/76...

Urgent action needed to fix overwhelmingly complex Windsor Framework arrangements, Lords Committee warn - Committees - UK Parliament

Today the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee publishes its first report following its inquiry on Strengthening Northern Ireland’s Voice in the Context of the Windsor Framework, issuing a strong...

committees.parliament.uk

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

Can't help thinking the hostility that is widely seen hasn't really been helping the cause of building more.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

Utterly dominating Westminster conversations, what have you done to persuade OBR to forecast more growth in time for the budget...

My (negative) contribution is to point out that trade deals won't offer much...

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Reposted by David Henig

John Springford @johnspringford.bsky.social · 1d

Extraordinary nonsense. The Trump administration's *stated aim* is to force production onshore.

Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 1d

Righty-o.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

Europe's language towards China carries colonial era baggage that goes down very badly, as a country that is getting above itself in threatening the west's economic superiority. That boat sailed long ago. The approach needs urgent change.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

The language of relations with China has to change as well as the underlying message. How about "we all have vulnerabilities in global supply chains, and we all have dependencies on others - we all work on that individually, but cooperation where possible is better"

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

So, coordinate with the US? There might be a problem or two with that... and have a tough response - well who has the leverage here?

Europe at least has to wake up to China being at least an equal economic power, probably more.

Camille Gijs @camgijs.bsky.social · 1d

Hello from Horsens, Denmark where the EU’s trade ministers meet today.

The relationship with China is under the spotlight, amid fresh tensions over Beijing’s export restrictions on rare earths.

Denmark’s FM Rasmussen said that the EU should “have a tough response” and coordinate with the U.S.

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