David Henig
@davidheniguk.bsky.social
Trade wonk, Brexit bore, globalisation defender, music lover, cricketer, gardener, supporter of mediocre football teams, who knows where the time goes?
Pinned
David Henig
@davidheniguk.bsky.social
· Oct 15
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
"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...
Global markets are a reality --->
ecipe.org/blog/the-new...
Bevin was genuine working class. Glasman is the latest in a long line of phoneys claiming to understand them from a distance. Just shows the state of UK politics that such an obvious lightweight is being given any status whatsoever.
Fairly sure Bevin would tell him to fuck off.
November 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Bevin was genuine working class. Glasman is the latest in a long line of phoneys claiming to understand them from a distance. Just shows the state of UK politics that such an obvious lightweight is being given any status whatsoever.
A small thing I note. Those proclaiming dissatisfaction whether with immigrants or inability for young people to buy houses are typically claiming it on behalf of others. Maybe a lot of ageing folk trying to escape blaming their own ageing? Or something else specific to modern times?
November 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small thing I note. Those proclaiming dissatisfaction whether with immigrants or inability for young people to buy houses are typically claiming it on behalf of others. Maybe a lot of ageing folk trying to escape blaming their own ageing? Or something else specific to modern times?
Interesting thoughts sparked to a degree by my own, because I suspect failed efforts by the state at control are a factor in popular disillusion, and that how money is spent really matters.
so - do we expect too much of the state or not enough?
I feel like the proper question is too rarely asked
what is the balance between state intervention/control/mandates, and state support/funding/provision?
it is not a political rule that they are intertwined, is it? These days we seem to get/
I feel like the proper question is too rarely asked
what is the balance between state intervention/control/mandates, and state support/funding/provision?
it is not a political rule that they are intertwined, is it? These days we seem to get/
November 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Interesting thoughts sparked to a degree by my own, because I suspect failed efforts by the state at control are a factor in popular disillusion, and that how money is spent really matters.
Reposted by David Henig
I do think it's worth addressing that the intellectual lodestar of this government is a gibbering idiot.
There are some truly unhinged bits in the piece about Glasman, as to be expected when dealing with Glasman, but seriously what the actual? That's...one hell of a conflation of terminology.
November 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I do think it's worth addressing that the intellectual lodestar of this government is a gibbering idiot.
Some people I hung out with last night. Unexpected pleasure to be celebrating a wedding... but congratulations @pimlicat.bsky.social
Got the band back together at mine and Paul’s surprise wedding reception. I love these people so much 🥰
@sturdyalex.bsky.social @rostaylor.bsky.social @dorianlynskey.bsky.social @iandunt.bsky.social and Ingrid Oliver
@sturdyalex.bsky.social @rostaylor.bsky.social @dorianlynskey.bsky.social @iandunt.bsky.social and Ingrid Oliver
November 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Some people I hung out with last night. Unexpected pleasure to be celebrating a wedding... but congratulations @pimlicat.bsky.social
Still widespread denial. So let's take an example - support for special educational needs has never been better resourced in the UK. Yet the widespread belief is that this is worse than before.
Other examples available.
Modern politics has a massive problem.
Other examples available.
Modern politics has a massive problem.
Of course in many respects everyone's life could be better. But that was always the case. There was never a time when life was particularly better than now.
So at what point in recent years did we start to expect that the government would take care of everything? And why?
So at what point in recent years did we start to expect that the government would take care of everything? And why?
November 23, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Still widespread denial. So let's take an example - support for special educational needs has never been better resourced in the UK. Yet the widespread belief is that this is worse than before.
Other examples available.
Modern politics has a massive problem.
Other examples available.
Modern politics has a massive problem.
You'll be telling me next that private schools have survived VAT?
Don't worry, every day brings new stories of how proposed taxes / regulations / whatever will destroy the entirety of life as we know it...
Don't worry, every day brings new stories of how proposed taxes / regulations / whatever will destroy the entirety of life as we know it...
Apparently dire predictions of how the Online Safety Act would impact the UK have proven totally overblown. Who could possibly have...
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
From The Economist
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
From The Economist
Britain’s controversial experiment in regulating the internet
The effects of a new law have been less dramatic than critics warned
www.economist.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:26 AM
You'll be telling me next that private schools have survived VAT?
Don't worry, every day brings new stories of how proposed taxes / regulations / whatever will destroy the entirety of life as we know it...
Don't worry, every day brings new stories of how proposed taxes / regulations / whatever will destroy the entirety of life as we know it...
Of course in many respects everyone's life could be better. But that was always the case. There was never a time when life was particularly better than now.
So at what point in recent years did we start to expect that the government would take care of everything? And why?
So at what point in recent years did we start to expect that the government would take care of everything? And why?
November 23, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Of course in many respects everyone's life could be better. But that was always the case. There was never a time when life was particularly better than now.
So at what point in recent years did we start to expect that the government would take care of everything? And why?
So at what point in recent years did we start to expect that the government would take care of everything? And why?
The mob boss solution to a dispute / war involving others is to demand payment for the burden of pretending to keep order between them.
Just as the mob boss solution to international trade is to respect the mob of equal size but expect payments from all the others.
Just as the mob boss solution to international trade is to respect the mob of equal size but expect payments from all the others.
November 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The mob boss solution to a dispute / war involving others is to demand payment for the burden of pretending to keep order between them.
Just as the mob boss solution to international trade is to respect the mob of equal size but expect payments from all the others.
Just as the mob boss solution to international trade is to respect the mob of equal size but expect payments from all the others.
There's a lot to unpack here but the main point is that UK trade openness is more about attitudes to immigration than Brexit, and that even then it would be difficult to escape low growth in a mature economy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof | Jonathan Freedland
The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – tragically, it won’t, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:39 AM
There's a lot to unpack here but the main point is that UK trade openness is more about attitudes to immigration than Brexit, and that even then it would be difficult to escape low growth in a mature economy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My fears that the England cricket team were being overly optimistic seem to be coming true. Going to have to improve quickly or this could be another gruesome tour.
November 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
My fears that the England cricket team were being overly optimistic seem to be coming true. Going to have to improve quickly or this could be another gruesome tour.
Do increasingly wonder what the EU communications strategy is when an obviously false statement like "EU officials said that London is under the impression that there's no sense of urgency" is stated with regard to SAFE access. Seems a deal may be possible. www.politico.eu/article/no-d...
No deal on UK access to EU’s defense spending plan
The Commission wanted to wrap talks with the U.K. on taking part in the SAFE program by the end of the week, but that deadline is slipping.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Do increasingly wonder what the EU communications strategy is when an obviously false statement like "EU officials said that London is under the impression that there's no sense of urgency" is stated with regard to SAFE access. Seems a deal may be possible. www.politico.eu/article/no-d...
Oh, Customs Union again? Based on recent conversations I am pretty sure that any form of greater UK market access to the single market including this will require substantial financial contribution, alignment, and close to freedom of movement. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Lib Dems to force vote on creating new customs union with EU
Ed Davey’s party believes the move is the best way to ‘turbocharge’ economy, rather than tax rises
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Oh, Customs Union again? Based on recent conversations I am pretty sure that any form of greater UK market access to the single market including this will require substantial financial contribution, alignment, and close to freedom of movement. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
When I read "this package is being sent by Whistl" I start counting down the days to the point when it is reasonable to ask for a refund or resend, because I'm at 0/3 delivered since September. Others aren't great, they are in a class of their own.
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
When I read "this package is being sent by Whistl" I start counting down the days to the point when it is reasonable to ask for a refund or resend, because I'm at 0/3 delivered since September. Others aren't great, they are in a class of their own.
Nice try, but the UK is considered almost completely irrelevant in global trade policy. Lack ideas and expertise, wider context where maintaining connections with larger powers is the priority for growth in an increasingly coercive international order. www.politico.eu/article/uk-a...
Britain tries to reform global trade — without alienating Trump
U.K. Ambassador Kumar Iyer’s vision for WTO reform centers on shaking up the way the 30-year-old watchdog handles disputes.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Nice try, but the UK is considered almost completely irrelevant in global trade policy. Lack ideas and expertise, wider context where maintaining connections with larger powers is the priority for growth in an increasingly coercive international order. www.politico.eu/article/uk-a...
The EU and CPTPP countries agree that global rules are terribly important unless there's some reason to break them. Which is rather like the commitments in a digital trade deal. So kind of apt at this point that this is mostly what they'll discuss.
@ec.europa.eu @marossefcovic.bsky.social launches trade and investment dialogue with CPTPP. Let’s hope that ‘fostering sustainable development’ objective has real meaning. At least the absence of the US and China gives this a chance
policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-laun...
policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-laun...
EU launches Trade and Investment Dialogue with Trans-Pacific bloc
Today, in Australia, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič launched, together with his twelve counterparts, the first EU-CPTPP Trade and Investment Dialogue.
policy.trade.ec.europa.eu
November 21, 2025 at 8:14 AM
The EU and CPTPP countries agree that global rules are terribly important unless there's some reason to break them. Which is rather like the commitments in a digital trade deal. So kind of apt at this point that this is mostly what they'll discuss.
Brussels London soundtrack starts with Dr Feelgood Stupidity. No political comment implied as it happens...
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Brussels London soundtrack starts with Dr Feelgood Stupidity. No political comment implied as it happens...
One facet of a real or wannabe autocracy is to elevate dumb excuses into government policy.
this defies parody. also helps explain why Sec Bessent bizarrely blamed immigrants when confronted with a question about high beef prices
November 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
One facet of a real or wannabe autocracy is to elevate dumb excuses into government policy.
Governments don't want to admit that they cannot in fact control supply and demand within supply chains. At best they can have some influence. Which is a bit of a problem given this has been a fact for many years.
Some cautionary words from Kozo Saiki from Japan's trade ministry, at the EU's trade policy day
He says Tokyo prepared a subsidy programme for firms to process rare earths domestically but "very few applied" because they "can't compete with cheap products" from China
He says Tokyo prepared a subsidy programme for firms to process rare earths domestically but "very few applied" because they "can't compete with cheap products" from China
November 20, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Governments don't want to admit that they cannot in fact control supply and demand within supply chains. At best they can have some influence. Which is a bit of a problem given this has been a fact for many years.
Important - in a global order in which international rules are losing importance, one part of the emerging replacement is this neo-royalist approach involving interlinked states and companies. Once again, put away the deglobalisation simplisms.
1/This week has seen a blitz of what looks like corruption sandals: Saudi development deals for US military tech, Pakistani payments to Trump insiders for tariff relief, Swiss gold bars for a trade deal. Far from a payoff, this is a reordering of internat'l system.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Important - in a global order in which international rules are losing importance, one part of the emerging replacement is this neo-royalist approach involving interlinked states and companies. Once again, put away the deglobalisation simplisms.
Good piece, a wealth tax can make an economic contribution, but a limited one. It won't solve all problems. That requires the same painful trade offs not least in terms of regulation, distribution, and growth.
November 20, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Good piece, a wealth tax can make an economic contribution, but a limited one. It won't solve all problems. That requires the same painful trade offs not least in terms of regulation, distribution, and growth.
Most unexpected overheard Brussels conversation - a reassurance that Ed Miliband can in fact eat a bacon sandwich.
November 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Most unexpected overheard Brussels conversation - a reassurance that Ed Miliband can in fact eat a bacon sandwich.
My latest - handily timed as I'm in Brussels - the EU is not a trade superpower. It might just be the only middle power of trade. Badly missing is any sense of prioritisation, and the institutions are not well set up for a new mix of security and trade. borderlex.net/2025/11/19/p...
Perspectives: The EU is not a trade superpower – how to make the best of it - Borderlex - European trade policy
Brussels is institutionally under-powered and over-fragmented to take on the existential trade and related security challenges it is facing. Reshuffling the same old approaches is not working. Continu...
borderlex.net
November 19, 2025 at 9:14 AM
My latest - handily timed as I'm in Brussels - the EU is not a trade superpower. It might just be the only middle power of trade. Badly missing is any sense of prioritisation, and the institutions are not well set up for a new mix of security and trade. borderlex.net/2025/11/19/p...
The Scotsman from Lancaster (technically grew up in a village nearby but not a morning to quibble about such matters).
Against not very much competition now probably the most famous person from my home town.
Against not very much competition now probably the most famous person from my home town.
November 19, 2025 at 7:55 AM
The Scotsman from Lancaster (technically grew up in a village nearby but not a morning to quibble about such matters).
Against not very much competition now probably the most famous person from my home town.
Against not very much competition now probably the most famous person from my home town.
Always love to see Scotland in the World Cup finals.
November 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Always love to see Scotland in the World Cup finals.