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...
Yes. Playing into my wider thesis that we really don't like the results of policy choices over the last x years whether high minimum wages, significant levels of regulation, or free trade. Not helped by politicians not trying to own them as delivering something better.
My column
Everyone loves progressive tax changes in theory but seem to hate them when they face the consequeuences
One for UK graduates on Plan 2 loans to read...
as.ft.com/r/d9c65a3c-1...
Everyone loves progressive tax changes in theory but seem to hate them when they face the consequeuences
One for UK graduates on Plan 2 loans to read...
as.ft.com/r/d9c65a3c-1...
February 18, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Yes. Playing into my wider thesis that we really don't like the results of policy choices over the last x years whether high minimum wages, significant levels of regulation, or free trade. Not helped by politicians not trying to own them as delivering something better.
Fairly simply a Reform or Conservative government would take us back to economic reality denial in which there would be a lot of shouting about sovereignty and then the government would have to do as the major companies and markets demand of us.
February 18, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Fairly simply a Reform or Conservative government would take us back to economic reality denial in which there would be a lot of shouting about sovereignty and then the government would have to do as the major companies and markets demand of us.
Perhaps thinking about this locals actually have been "failed by politics" because if leaders won't explain their choices, the BBC is unlikely to do so, and you have people receiving tokenistic promises which can't deliver what they suggest.
This sort of framing of stories about 'left behind' places is getting very tired. How have they been 'failed' by politics? They are the product of political choices - which organisations like the BBC have often failed to explain to people.
Inside Horden, the County Durham town failed by politics
In Horden, County Durham, Westminster slogans have long been left unmet as the population has plummeted.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Perhaps thinking about this locals actually have been "failed by politics" because if leaders won't explain their choices, the BBC is unlikely to do so, and you have people receiving tokenistic promises which can't deliver what they suggest.
Another story in which Chinese "over-capacity" is transforming the world - this time Electric Vehicles in Ethiopia.
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Electric Vehicle Sales Boom as Ethiopia Bans Fossil-Fuel Car Imports
The East African country is making use of cheap hydropower and Chinese electric vehicles to ditch the internal combustion engine.
www.bloomberg.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Another story in which Chinese "over-capacity" is transforming the world - this time Electric Vehicles in Ethiopia.
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Entertaining idea that the EU Industrial Accelerator Act is delayed because they can't decide whether the UK is European or not, but the truth is a fundamental divide in EU economic policy between French-led protectionists and the traditional open trade members. www.politico.eu/article/eus-...
Von der Leyen’s industry master plan runs into trouble
Nine European Commission departments pan the Industrial Accelerator Act, leaving the landmark proposal in a tough spot.
www.politico.eu
February 18, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Entertaining idea that the EU Industrial Accelerator Act is delayed because they can't decide whether the UK is European or not, but the truth is a fundamental divide in EU economic policy between French-led protectionists and the traditional open trade members. www.politico.eu/article/eus-...
Mona and I are on competing WTO discussions this afternoon! So join her and that starred panel, or me and some very eminent folk... www.wita.org/events/wto-m...
February 18, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Mona and I are on competing WTO discussions this afternoon! So join her and that starred panel, or me and some very eminent folk... www.wita.org/events/wto-m...
Reposted by David Henig
@ec.europa.eu adopts proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of EU-UK Agreement in respect of Gibraltar. Key points of last June's political agreement👇. Expect Mail, DTel etc to cry 'surrender', but well done David Lammy as Foreign Secretary ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
February 18, 2026 at 8:51 AM
@ec.europa.eu adopts proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of EU-UK Agreement in respect of Gibraltar. Key points of last June's political agreement👇. Expect Mail, DTel etc to cry 'surrender', but well done David Lammy as Foreign Secretary ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Escaping an international spiral of economic distrust means new international rules to handle Chinese over-capacity and US coercion (which will also capture that of others including China and the EU). This article covers the first and why it is needed. www.hinrichfoundation.com/research/art...
China’s industrial policy is a recipe for overcapacity | Article | Hinrich Foundation
How international rules adapt to China’s industrial scale — the country’s greatest strength and greatest liability — will determine the future of open markets.
www.hinrichfoundation.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Escaping an international spiral of economic distrust means new international rules to handle Chinese over-capacity and US coercion (which will also capture that of others including China and the EU). This article covers the first and why it is needed. www.hinrichfoundation.com/research/art...
"Fun" at least for Simon. An EU-UK agreement of unknown content.
Some notes on the coming fun with Gibraltar
tl;dr There's an agreement, that needs to be in place for 10 April, but no one knows exactly what it is yet
1/
tl;dr There's an agreement, that needs to be in place for 10 April, but no one knows exactly what it is yet
1/
February 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"Fun" at least for Simon. An EU-UK agreement of unknown content.
Lot of folk on this site doing very well to hide their obvious disappointment at not being picked for the Reform 'shadow cabinet'
I’m in Westminster where Nigel Farage is about to unveil his ‘shadow cabinet’ and the decor is slightly bonkers. Looks like he’s going to launch a Simon Cowell-era boyband instead.
February 17, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Lot of folk on this site doing very well to hide their obvious disappointment at not being picked for the Reform 'shadow cabinet'
Gutted to see Australia knocked out of the World 20:20 cricket.
Said very few people.
Said very few people.
February 17, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Gutted to see Australia knocked out of the World 20:20 cricket.
Said very few people.
Said very few people.
My latest for @borderlex.net - in which I try to introduce some much needed focus into EU economic security. At core this needs to be about diversity in supply and demand, some new tools are needed to achieve this, and this should start with neighbours. borderlex.net/2026/02/17/p...
Perspectives: EU economic security begins with neighbours - Borderlex - European trade policy
EU will only succeed in its economic security policy if it starts by stopping coercing its direct neighbours, argues David Henig.
borderlex.net
February 17, 2026 at 12:06 PM
My latest for @borderlex.net - in which I try to introduce some much needed focus into EU economic security. At core this needs to be about diversity in supply and demand, some new tools are needed to achieve this, and this should start with neighbours. borderlex.net/2026/02/17/p...
Reposted by David Henig
Constant reactions to what has been a period of profound chance since c 2000. Confusingly, this isn’t change in the sense of the guillotine (sudden, decisive), its change in fits and starts with the contours of the pre-system still visible - pronounced elements of continuity as well as change.
An age of insecurity reflected in so many stories today... sometimes tipping over into fear... starting with a story that I first heard last year, fears for other economies if a Trump administration tampered with payment systems... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK bank bosses plan to set up Visa and Mastercard alternative amid Trump fears
Exclusive: First meeting to be held over domestic payments system aimed at reducing reliance on US networks
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Constant reactions to what has been a period of profound chance since c 2000. Confusingly, this isn’t change in the sense of the guillotine (sudden, decisive), its change in fits and starts with the contours of the pre-system still visible - pronounced elements of continuity as well as change.
No mention of trade on which UK and Canada have not had the best of relationships.
Keir Starmer and @mark-carney.bsky.social agree on 'a more European NATO' www.gov.uk/government/n...
PM call with Prime Minister Carney of Canada: 16 February 2026
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney.
www.gov.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
No mention of trade on which UK and Canada have not had the best of relationships.
Back in 2009 when I was working on regulatory simplification something called the "trade single window" was included as an entry. 17 years later, notwithstanding last government boosterism and growing importance due to Brexit, it appears to have failed. Embarrassing. www.ft.com/content/186f...
UK quietly shelves £110mn frictionless post-Brexit trade border project
Experts criticise halt to programme that had used Deloitte and IBM as contractors
www.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Back in 2009 when I was working on regulatory simplification something called the "trade single window" was included as an entry. 17 years later, notwithstanding last government boosterism and growing importance due to Brexit, it appears to have failed. Embarrassing. www.ft.com/content/186f...
Reposted by David Henig
“Taking the state for granted” is the key problem here. So much political debate is about the state doing things badly, but the populists who would rule instead will destroy a lot of what it does, deliberately or through incompetence. People *will not* be happy when that happens.
PS just to add to the impetus this US administration is saying 'European liberalism is dead, roll over to the fascists'. So, do we accept that, or do we actually notice that states in the UK, France and elsewhere actually deliver huge amounts which we just take for granted?
February 17, 2026 at 8:02 AM
“Taking the state for granted” is the key problem here. So much political debate is about the state doing things badly, but the populists who would rule instead will destroy a lot of what it does, deliberately or through incompetence. People *will not* be happy when that happens.
Very good column from @sarahoconnorft.ft.com "Which skills are set to be in high economic demand after this current rupture might be different to the ones we have grown used to" - and that's the normal way of the world. Adjustments. www.ft.com/content/0409...
We have to stop calling some jobs ‘low skilled’
Freeing ourselves of these labels might help young people to think more creatively about the future
www.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Very good column from @sarahoconnorft.ft.com "Which skills are set to be in high economic demand after this current rupture might be different to the ones we have grown used to" - and that's the normal way of the world. Adjustments. www.ft.com/content/0409...
An age of insecurity reflected in so many stories today... sometimes tipping over into fear... starting with a story that I first heard last year, fears for other economies if a Trump administration tampered with payment systems... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK bank bosses plan to set up Visa and Mastercard alternative amid Trump fears
Exclusive: First meeting to be held over domestic payments system aimed at reducing reliance on US networks
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:22 AM
An age of insecurity reflected in so many stories today... sometimes tipping over into fear... starting with a story that I first heard last year, fears for other economies if a Trump administration tampered with payment systems... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Asks the question of whether the third country approach to Trump's trade deals of sign and not implement is wise given what will happen after this administration. My first take is that because they aren't legally binding on the US then others will just renounce then renegotiate.
This week's MFN is about telling Trump you're going to do things, not doing them, and then hoping he doesn't notice.
mostfavourednation.substack.com/p/strategic-...
mostfavourednation.substack.com/p/strategic-...
Strategic under-implementation
Slow-walking, tariff payments, least favoured nation, and digital rules of origin
mostfavourednation.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Asks the question of whether the third country approach to Trump's trade deals of sign and not implement is wise given what will happen after this administration. My first take is that because they aren't legally binding on the US then others will just renounce then renegotiate.
Reposted by David Henig
As EU politics looks more and more nervously at the elections in 2027, expect a very packed decision-making agenda in the second half of 2026, with this just one of many examples:
EU leaders want to settle the ECB succession now to avoid a far-right "political season". Fast-tracking Lagarde’s replacement is seen as the only way to protect the bank from the chaos of the upcoming race for Macron's seat.
#ECB #eurozone #Lagarde #France
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
#ECB #eurozone #Lagarde #France
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU Governments May Want to Fast-Track Lagarde Succession at ECB
European governments may choose to fast-track finding a successor for Christine Lagarde at the European Central Bank to avoid having to deal with a far-right French president after 2027 elections.
www.bloomberg.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:25 PM
As EU politics looks more and more nervously at the elections in 2027, expect a very packed decision-making agenda in the second half of 2026, with this just one of many examples:
Reposted by David Henig
I find this article persuasive. I know from my own anti-fascist organising that many left-wing Jews - including many who have been extremely vocal against Israel's actions in Gaza, turning up at protests week after week, having many difficult conversations - have a complex relationship with Zionism.
Here is an explanation on why Jewish Greens (who obviously don't speak for every single Jewish person in the party, etc) are so opposed to the Zionism is Racism motion brought to the #GreenParty's spring conference.
jewishgreens.greenparty.org.uk/2026/02/12/w...
jewishgreens.greenparty.org.uk/2026/02/12/w...
Why Jewish Greens are urging party members to vote against MOTION A105: ZIONISM IS RACISM - Jewish Greens
Jewish Greens oppose motion at party conference unintentionally antisemitic
jewishgreens.greenparty.org.uk
February 16, 2026 at 12:16 PM
I find this article persuasive. I know from my own anti-fascist organising that many left-wing Jews - including many who have been extremely vocal against Israel's actions in Gaza, turning up at protests week after week, having many difficult conversations - have a complex relationship with Zionism.
Takes me back around 25 years ago when I was working as a consultant on the then rather revolutionary concept of providing comprehensive transport information called "Transport Direct".
Overtaken in a few years by Google Maps and others. There were competition questions raised then as well.
Overtaken in a few years by Google Maps and others. There were competition questions raised then as well.
Fantastic to see my Mini Switzerland idea covered by the BBC.
It captures so many people’s imaginations because it’s both obvious, simple and yet - from where we are today - unspeakably radical.
Please share!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It captures so many people’s imaginations because it’s both obvious, simple and yet - from where we are today - unspeakably radical.
Please share!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Mini Switzerland' plan for Peak District transport network
The idea would see buses arriving before trains pull into stations to improve connectivity.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Takes me back around 25 years ago when I was working as a consultant on the then rather revolutionary concept of providing comprehensive transport information called "Transport Direct".
Overtaken in a few years by Google Maps and others. There were competition questions raised then as well.
Overtaken in a few years by Google Maps and others. There were competition questions raised then as well.
Reposted by David Henig
We hear way too much about angry Britain, blue-red Britain. What about the Britain of Save the Children, Oxfam, the RSPCA, the RNLI, popular environmentalism, the Britain of London's absolute triumph since its 80s nadir, its civic universities, the Britain of volunteering, giving, hoping?
February 16, 2026 at 10:52 AM
We hear way too much about angry Britain, blue-red Britain. What about the Britain of Save the Children, Oxfam, the RSPCA, the RNLI, popular environmentalism, the Britain of London's absolute triumph since its 80s nadir, its civic universities, the Britain of volunteering, giving, hoping?
Probably more talk than action... an EU official confirmed, it is “not part of the priority for actions for now” - not least given the bloc is also fighting its own protectionists. But good that conversations are happening.
February 16, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Probably more talk than action... an EU official confirmed, it is “not part of the priority for actions for now” - not least given the bloc is also fighting its own protectionists. But good that conversations are happening.
Reposted by David Henig
not that it's not a complex issue but it drives me *insane* that we've been watching the world set itself on fire over the past decade or so partly because of people quite suddenly going from Not Very Online to Way Too Online and governments now want to recreate that experience with teens everywhere
February 16, 2026 at 9:38 AM
not that it's not a complex issue but it drives me *insane* that we've been watching the world set itself on fire over the past decade or so partly because of people quite suddenly going from Not Very Online to Way Too Online and governments now want to recreate that experience with teens everywhere