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

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 2h

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 · 11h

"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...

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.

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

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Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Borderlex @borderlex.net · 11h

"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...

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.

EU doubles down on steel protection - Borderlex

Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Borderlex @borderlex.net · 1d

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...

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

UK could retaliate against EU steel tariffs, says top official

Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Graham Lanktree @glanktree.bsky.social · 1d

UK could retaliate against EU steel tariffs, says top official

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

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

www.politico.eu

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

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1d

“This is a developing story”

Line of the times!

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 1d

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

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

on.ft.com

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...

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

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 concessions...

tinyurl.com

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

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 2d

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

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 · 2d

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 · 2d

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 · 2d

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 · 3d

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

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

Reading competing assessments of China's and the US' growth strategies, both analytical camps code their economic challenges with different language; share concerns for the sustainability of domestic protectionism and self-sufficiency. Uncertain futures.

Some examples below, just while reading...

Japan's dual-use screening to cover $31bn in machine tool, drone, chip exports

Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Nikkei Asia (Official) @asia.nikkei.com · 3d

Japan's dual-use screening to cover $31bn in machine tool, drone, chip exports
https://asia.nikkei.com/economy/trade/japan-s-dual-use-screening-to-cover-31bn-in-machine-tool-drone-chip-exports

Government ratchets up measures to prevent diversion for military use

asia.nikkei.com

EU channels Trump with tariffs to shield steel sector

Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 3d

Today we will get 50% EU steel tariffs, aimed at tackling cheap Chinese imports.

Industry chief Stéphane Séjourné was forced to deny that the bloc is mimicking Trump in the EP yesterday evening

The European Union will take a page out of US President Donald Trump's tariff playbook on Tuesday with a plan to hike levies and slash quotas for imported steel -- to protect the bloc's struggling industry…

www.france24.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

Honestly, we know the likely outcome of any diplomacy between Trump and Meloni might be something like, "go ahead and build more in the US to avoid the tariffs."

Making the Commission's next move slippery...

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 3d

If they really have been dumping pasta they should be thrown in a penne-tentiary...

EU backs Italy in Trump’s pasta tariff war - on.ft.com/46BiEXE via @FT

EU backs Italy in Trump’s pasta tariff war

US threatens to apply tariffs of up to 107% on Barilla and other makes of Italian staple over alleged dumping

on.ft.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

While the Trump admin equates U.S. security with economic competitiveness (simultaneously blurring leverage, cronyism, and restoration), the means to these objectives all defy economic growth, creating more harm than good. But if just future-proofing the military, could have imagined less challenge.

Alanis Morissette And Isnt It Ironic Dont You Think GIF

ALT: Alanis Morissette And Isnt It Ironic Dont You Think GIF

media.tenor.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

On October 11, 2025, my family will run in the #RBCRacefortheKids to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), as they need new child cancer-fighting facilities.

If you have £5 to spare, I would be grateful if you could help GOSH. Please see the link: race.gosh.org/fundraisers/...

Mona Paulsen

I’m joining the race to help beat childhood cancer by taking part in GOSH family fun run and festival, RBC Race for the Kids. The money raised from this event will help build the Children’s Cancer Cen...

race.gosh.org

Don’t expect a farmers’ revolt to moderate Trump’s tariff campaign

Reposted by Mona Paulsen

Alan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 3d

My Trade Secrets today. Trump has annoyed farmers by provoking China to block their exports while bailing out Argentina, home of their rivals.

Are the farmers right to feel betrayed? Is a pitchfork rebellion against his tariffs coming? Will farm country turn against Trump?

Answers: no, no and no.

[FREE TO READ] US agricultural exporters could see the trade war coming — and voted for him anyway

on.ft.com

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Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

Remember, Brazil and the US are in consultations for the tariffs at the WTO too...

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

Third, we have yet to see how securitisation of trade will structure commercial considerations of private (tech) firms. Opaque, unbound, growing, it occurs simultaneously to the Trump administration building of Fortress USA, Inc. blurring responsibilities of private/public and state/commercial.

Mona Paulsen @monapaulsen.bsky.social · 3d

Second, it's the context that matters, which has spillover effects into bindingness and transparency. To act quickly, we see the US pursue a never-ending story that bypasses checks and balances. So it's not the abstract notion of security, but the woolly means it perpetuatally cloaks assessment.