Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 14m

I just don’t talk enough about how @simonlester.com brought IEL folks together and how his business continues to inform us and offer a steady blogging platform for engagement. We need a place to build those long forms and accommodate central rapid discussion. A Goldilocks forum. Hope we get there.

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

Discussing Trade Policy on the Internet

Shifting the IELP blog to a new platform has led me to do a bit of reflection on the past, present, and future of discussing trade policy online. I am vaguely aware that there were Usenet forum discussions in the 1990s, and there may have been good trade policy conversations

dlvr.it

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 52m

It was a huge long form post so maybe there’s a preference there! I just never go in X anymore, just happened to see it when checking on something Henry wrote.

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1h

www.ft.com/content/f0e3...

US magnet start-up targets China’s grip on rare earths

Niron Magnetics is backed by $150mn from automakers to develop technology based on abundant iron and nitrogen

www.ft.com

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1h

Peter Harrell over at X mentioned US should prioritise innovation and I don’t disagree! Question for fediverse is how to phase integration, as FT reported Niron Magnetics “end use for their products has yet to be determined.” Dependence on financing US-backed champions to catch up raises questions.

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 7h

China & US are locked in tit-for-tat retaliation. But, for now, are all outcomes lose-lose?

China isn’t evolving its strategy to tackle weakened/challenged external demands of its products.

US isn’t fostering coordination with producer or consumption countries to diversify from Chinese dependence.

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 7h

Thus far, several trading partners have placated the United States by opening their chequebook.

But I’d like to hope they’re at least electric trucks.

The Japan Times @japantimes.co.jp · 17h

Japan is reportedly considering the purchase of Ford F-150 pickup trucks for use as government vehicles in an effort to fulfill pledges made during trade negotiations with the United States.

Ford F-150 might be imported by the Japanese government: report

The pickup trucks would be used by local transport ministry offices for construction and road patrols.

ebx.sh

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1d

#RBCRaceforthrKids let’s go!

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1d

Worst game of chicken ever.

Hong Kong Free Press HKFP @hongkongfp.com · 1d

US President Donald Trump announced an additional 100 percent tariff on China Friday and threatened to cancel a summit with Xi Jinping. In full: buff.ly/h7xPaA4

Trump announces new 100 percent China tariff, threatens to scrap Xi talks | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

US President Donald Trump announced an additional 100 percent tariff on China Friday and threatened to cancel a summit with Xi Jinping, reigniting his trade war with Beijing in a row over export curbs...

buff.ly

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1d

Include scrap copper too?

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 1d

Copper slumped by the most in five months after President Trump threatened a “massive increase” of tariffs on Chinese goods, in comments that sparked turmoil across financial markets

Copper Tumbles as Trump Threatens Massive New Tariffs on China

Copper plunged after President Donald Trump threatened a massive increase of tariffs on goods from China, the world’s top buyer of the industrial metal.

bloom.bg

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1d

Isn’t this a bit about saving face?

Nikkei Asia (Official) @asia.nikkei.com · 2d

Trump weighs 'massive increase' in China tariffs, says no reason to meet Xi
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/us-china-tensions/trump-weighs-massive-increase-in-china-tariffs-says-no-reason-to-meet-xi

Trump weighs 'massive increase' in China tariffs, says no reason to meet Xi

US president claims Beijing is informing countries of its own new export controls

asia.nikkei.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 2d

This past week, the overwhelming response to China’s new rare earth export controls (largely copying what the US has done...) has been met with a push for the so-called West (as if the US is interested in alliance) to respond.

Discourse highly defensive, but what about legal paths to a solution?

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 2d

Designing protections to appease one partner who you sell to, denying the consequences for the partner on the other end, who you buy from….

Borderlex @borderlex.net · 2d

Chinese rare earth export control measures worry EU. They “could severely disrupt global supply chains dependent on Chinese rare earth inputs and know-how,” Henry Gao, trade export and law professor, Singapore Management University.
@robfranciseu.bsky.social reports:
borderlex.net/2025/10/09/c...

China rare earth export controls: EU Commission “concerned” - Borderlex

The European Commission expressed concern over China's announcement that it would expand export controls with extraterritorial reach on Chinese rare earths.

borderlex.net

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 2d

Fascinating, is this the first time DBT is on the record of new anti-coercion defences?

Considering the US has yet to set the UK in its sights, is this about China? The EU?

Borderlex @borderlex.net · 2d

"It's a big step for us to be looking at new powers on #anti-coercion – so it's very important that we get this right," Kate Joseph, director general for economic security and trade relations at DBT on new trade defence policy strategy.
@chrishorseman.bsky.social :
borderlex.net/2025/10/08/u...

UK mulls anti-coercion action, retaliation, in wake of US trade, EU steel action - Borderlex

The United Kingdom refused to rule out retaliating against the European Union if Britain loses access to the EU steel market as a result of Brussels' planned new tariff rate quotas.

borderlex.net

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Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Borderlex @borderlex.net · 2d

"It's a big step for us to be looking at new powers on #anti-coercion – so it's very important that we get this right," Kate Joseph, director general for economic security and trade relations at DBT on new trade defence policy strategy.
@chrishorseman.bsky.social :
borderlex.net/2025/10/08/u...

UK mulls anti-coercion action, retaliation, in wake of US trade, EU steel action - Borderlex

The United Kingdom refused to rule out retaliating against the European Union if Britain loses access to the EU steel market as a result of Brussels' planned new tariff rate quotas.

borderlex.net

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Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Borderlex @borderlex.net · 3d

Who’s not going to like the new EU steel import quotas? Türkiye, India, South Korea, Vietnam, China, Japan, United Kingdom and Ukraine…. #EUSteelQuotas #EUSteelTariffs
@robfranciseu.bsky.social reports: borderlex.net/2025/10/07/e...

EU doubles down on steel protection - Borderlex

The European Commission tabled a regulation that would tighten the levels of industry import protection afforded by an import safeguard introduced in 2019.

borderlex.net

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Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Graham Lanktree @glanktree.bsky.social · 3d

UK could retaliate against EU steel tariffs, says top official

www.politico.eu/article/uk-c...

UK could retaliate against EU steel tariffs, says top official

The proposals risk dealing a devastating blow to Britain’s embattled steelmakers.

www.politico.eu

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

“This is a developing story”

Line of the times!

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 3d

China unveils sweeping rare earth export controls to protect ‘national security’ on.ft.com/4nHKoQl

China unveils sweeping rare earth export controls to protect ‘national security’

Beijing is leveraging its dominant position in the critical minerals supply chain

on.ft.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 4d

Such a hard, abstract question! I've been trying to answer it as fairly and squarely as possible. But it's incredibly difficult when the proposed regulation suggests contradictory objectives -- both WTO renegotiation TRQ in schedules and these efforts to 'ringfence' steel from like-minded Members.

Reposted by Mona Paulsen

The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 4d

After Carney and Trump's meeting at the White House, Canadian and U.S. officials have been tasked with "quickly" reaching agreements on steel, aluminum and energy before moving on to other trade issues. This is what U.S. tariffs currently look like for Canada: www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 4d

The more I think about WTO compliance within the current context, the more I return to the analytical boundaries between law and politics. Steel protection will play out as the EU negotiates/consults with other Members, telling us more about how the EU plans to calibrate them. tinyurl.com/2r6ut33p

I am still thinking through what I read. Whether the EU proposed steel measures are WTO-inconsistent is a more complex question than it may first appear. The EU seeks to renegotiate tariff… | Mona Pau...

I am still thinking through what I read. Whether the EU proposed steel measures are WTO-inconsistent is a more complex question than it may first appear. The EU seeks to renegotiate tariff concessions...

tinyurl.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 4d

More on Linkedin: where I try to flesh out my initial thoughts after reading the proposed regulation www.linkedin.com/posts/mppaul...

Commission proposes plan to protect EU steel industry from unfair impacts of global overcapacity | Mona Paulsen

The Commission proposed a new steel measure yesterday. Initial thoughts after a 1st read is that replacing a tariff concession by a tariff rate quota (TRQ) is not unprecedented. The measure evidences ...

www.linkedin.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 4d

And if so, it runs afoul of MFN, which remains at the heart of tariff bindings, which makes me question the intersection of any non-binding understanding with the Americans. To this, I question the approach to a broader arrangement for managing global overcapacity, akin to building on sand.

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 4d

Just to clarify my quick reaction to the legality of the EU's new steel measure. Renegotiating tariffs pursuant to Art XXVIII GATT procedures is not illegal -- indeed, it's an efficient way to address changed circumstances. Is it a sound basis for selective discrimination? No.

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 5d

EU to the US — look what you made me do.

a woman in a red dress sits on a throne with candles in the background

ALT: a woman in a red dress sits on a throne with candles in the background

media.tenor.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 5d

USA - historicised; "great again"; controls; bargains; property protection (Made in USA); unicorns.

China - catch-up; "powering the future"; energy infrastructure; technocratic; controlled innovation; high-tech ecosystem; process knowledge

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