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Simon Lester

@simonlester.com

6.7K followers 710 following 6.4K posts

Founded WorldTradeLaw.net & ChinaTradeMonitor.com Non-Resident Fellow @bakerinstitute.bsky.social Formerly @wto.org @cato.org Trade Policy feed: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xqzu2eazvxb5fohoc4nap33y/feed/aaab5ctu4u4fc .. more

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Political science 43%

Economics 28%

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · Apr 3

I see lots of new followers popping up today. I assume you are here for the trade policy, in which case you might like my custom trade policy feed: bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 1h

(But yes, I see your point)

Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 1h

I feel like he might just stare blankly in total incomprehension!

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 1h

In addition to everything else wrong here, he says "begs the question" when he means "raises the question." (Yes, I know it's a losing battle, but it's a hill I will die on.)

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2h

Sean Duffy: "The No Kings protest, Maria, really frustrating. This is part of antifa, paid protesters. It begs the question who's funding it."

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Reposted by Simon Lester

WorldTradeLaw.net @worldtradelaw.bsky.social · 2h

Guest Post: Too Big To Fail: The EU Steel Industry, Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 and the EU’s Free Trade Agreements

This is a guest post by trade lawyer Victor Crochet and law professor Weihuan Zhou Steel has long been a contentious topic in international trade, in part because of the numerous jobs it creates and its relevance to downstream industries including those related to national defense. In the European Union

dlvr.it

Reposted by David S. Cohen, David R. Miller, Adrian Daub , and 4 more David S. Cohen, David R. Miller, Adrian Daub, Jacob T. Levy, Scott A. Imberman, Henry Jones, Simon Lester

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2h

Sean Duffy: "The No Kings protest, Maria, really frustrating. This is part of antifa, paid protesters. It begs the question who's funding it."

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 3h

Are the proposed EU TRQs on steel legal under WTO/FTA rules? In a new IELP blog post, trade lawyer Victor Crochet and law prof Weihuan Zhou run through some of the main issues:

"Too Big To Fail: The EU Steel Industry, Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 and the EU’s Free Trade Agreements"

Guest Post: Too Big To Fail: The EU Steel Industry, Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 and the EU’s Free Trade Agreements

ielp.worldtradelaw.net

Reposted by Bonnie Honig, Simon Lester

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 3h

John Oliver is good at his job

youtu.be/gieTx_P6INQ?...

Bari Weiss: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

youtu.be

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Reposted by James Scott, Simon Lester

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 3h

1/ Who are the globalists? Right wing, Christian group from US seeks to transform UK politics. The latest in a string of transnational moves by the far right to shift the global political debate. Welcome to the nationalist international.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...

They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Simon Lester

Matt Peterson @mattpeterson.bsky.social · 3h

Trump en route to Israel said new +100% China tariffs are still planned for Nov. 1. "Let’s see what happens. For me, you know what Nov. 1 is? An eternity. For somebody else, it’s right around the corner. For me, when I hear Nov. 1, it’s an eternity.”

(Market will hear TACO)

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Reposted by Iikka Korhonen, Simon Lester

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 7h

New Chinese Sept trade data out this morning - here's the picture for the EU

- China's exports to EU up 14.2%
- China's imports from EU up 9.4%
- Despite rebound in import number, trade surplus up 20% because of China's surging exports, to $22.85bn in Sept

All USD, year on year

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Reposted by Simon Lester

Steven Chase @stevenchase.bsky.social · 14h

Anand heads to China as Carney attempts a rapprochement with Beijing

www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

Anand heads to China as Carney attempts a rapprochement with Beijing

Ottawa is seeking to expand export markets outside of Donald Trump’s increasingly protectionist U.S.

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Reposted by Ian Campbell, Simon Lester, David Darmofal

Ghostin this Hell @hoovybaby.bsky.social · 14h

no quarter given lmao

Matt Stoller & @matthewstoller • 2h
UPS had seven months of warning about the de minimis change, but is still taking packages w/o getting required customs info & is making tariff charge errors.
Nice use of passive voice though!

derek guy
@dieworkwear • 2h
i apologize using a passive voice. i was not born in london to a wealthy bank executive, sent to an exclusive private prep school in new hampshire, and then studied at harvard before larping as a champion of the people. you have to work with my low upbringing.

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 18h

My theory is that it's all about clicks and (hate) follows, but who knows!

Reposted by Simon Lester

Menzie Chinn @mchinn.bsky.social · 19h

ht/ @simonlester.com & WaPo:
econbrowser.com/archives/202...

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 20h

May take time, but we'll get there! People are building some cool things right now.

Reposted by Simon Lester

Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · 20h

Ratio me. It’s a badge of honor. Oooooo yes I like it when you ratio me. Ooh now ratio me harder yessss. Now ratio me while the neighbors watch. Ok now wearing that costume. Yessss.

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Reposted by Simon Lester

Ben Casselman @bencasselman.bsky.social · 20h

Unemployment is surging for Black workers — and federal government layoffs will only make it worse. Important story from @lydiadepillis.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/b... #EconSky

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 21h

I'm going to tag @petereharrell.bsky.social in the hopes that he will see this and start posting over here too!

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 21h

Is she getting hammered? I'm not really following it. Trump claimed that she praised him, so I can imagine that annoyed the left.

Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 21h

I'm giving him way more credit then he deserves here, but I wonder if he is testing out whether he can correct the stock market fall with a vague post like this one. If it doesn't work, then he'll get the taco ingredients out.

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 21h

What's the point of these trolling for criticism posts? It's like if I went on LinkedIn and said "actually I don't offer congratulations on your work anniversary."

Sally Jenkins @sallyjenx.bsky.social · 22h

This is really smart. Amazed at the hysteria over the ascendance of a woman entrepreneur who clearly knows how to cover and sell news and who's not afraid to take on a mob. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Don’t Bet Against Bari Weiss

The new editor in chief of CBS News triumphs over her critics.

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Simon Lester

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 22h

My “don’t worry about China, it will all be fine” shirt has people asking a lot of questions that are already answered by my shirt

A tweet from Donald Trump that reads “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine! Highly respected President Xi just had a bad moment. He doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!! President DJT”

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Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Joe R. Feagin, Andreas Ortmann , and 10 more Joanna Bryson, Joe R. Feagin, Andreas Ortmann, Joseph Schafer, W. Andy Knight, Anne Norton, Leah Stokes, Marcus Credé, Simon Lester, Rebecca Zorach, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Dunlap

Graham Platner for Senate @grahamformaine.bsky.social · 22h

We have armed secret police kidnapping people off the street based on the color of their skin.

When we win: we will haul them before a Senate committee. The masks will come off. There will be consequences.

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Reposted by Simon Lester

Lydia DePillis @lydiadepillis.bsky.social · 22h

Today from me: The unemployment rate for Black workers has leapt upward in recent months, while staying level for other demographic groups. There are some pretty strong indications of what's going on.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/b...

Black Unemployment Is Surging Again. This Time Is Different.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by R. M. Wilson, Simon Lester, David Darmofal

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22h

DANIELS: Should the next Democratic president be a little bit more involved with the DOJ than Democrats have been in the past?

KAMALA HARRIS: No president should think of the DOJ as being their personal attorney

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Reposted by Jennifer A. Richeson, Steve Peers, Robert C. Richards , and 4 more Jennifer A. Richeson, Steve Peers, Robert C. Richards, Alan Richardson, Gerald Friedman, Simon Lester, David Waldstreicher

Sally Jenkins @sallyjenx.bsky.social · 22h

Don’t Bet Against Bari Weiss

The new editor in chief of CBS News triumphs over her critics.

www.theatlantic.com

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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 22h

No lessons have been learned from the Iraq war. All the foreign policy mistakes are being repeated.

Michael Paarlberg @mpaarlberg.bsky.social · 23h

It’s perplexing how a country whose politics since 2008 has been shaped by the Iraq War is so easily falling for “if you don’t support a war in Venezuela then you’re defending Maduro” and “we have evidence he’s a cartel boss, just trust us”

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Reposted by Simon Lester

Michael Paarlberg @mpaarlberg.bsky.social · 23h

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Reposted by Simon Lester, Timothy D. McBride, David Darmofal

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h

STEPHANOPOULOS: Did Tom Homan give the $50,000 back?

VANCE: He did not take a bribe. It's a ridiculous smear

STEPHANOPOULOS: You didn't answer the question

VANCE: Did he accept $50,000? I'm sure that in the course of Homan's life, he's been paid more than $50k for services.

(So, no, he didn't)

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Reposted by Simon Lester

China Trade Monitor @chinatrademonitor.bsky.social · 1d

China to Implement Extraterritorial Rare Earth Export Controls

Last week, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued new rules imposing extraterritorial export control measures for rare earth items. The new regime effectively extends China's regulatory reach beyond its borders, further completing a system that mirrors the legal framework of U.S. export controls. ...

dlvr.it

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