Patrick Lohlein
@patricklohlein.bsky.social
30 years in Campaigns & Comms, International Business & Public Affairs in Asia & Europe | 中国通 | ex- @ToriesVsBrexit @the3million +++ | occasionally ✍️ 📺 🎙 at various | not always serious
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
UK wealth inequality is pretty low.
Not everything is fixed by assets getting handed out - UK wealth is mostly housing, Thatcher handing out state assets to individuals was your textbook Clientilist Socialist move (as seen more recently in Venezuela).
Not everything is fixed by assets getting handed out - UK wealth is mostly housing, Thatcher handing out state assets to individuals was your textbook Clientilist Socialist move (as seen more recently in Venezuela).
January 17, 2026 at 2:02 PM
UK wealth inequality is pretty low.
Not everything is fixed by assets getting handed out - UK wealth is mostly housing, Thatcher handing out state assets to individuals was your textbook Clientilist Socialist move (as seen more recently in Venezuela).
Not everything is fixed by assets getting handed out - UK wealth is mostly housing, Thatcher handing out state assets to individuals was your textbook Clientilist Socialist move (as seen more recently in Venezuela).
Canada moves closer to China in order to reduce its dependency on the USA
We’re recalibrating Canada’s relationship with China — strategically, pragmatically, and decisively — to the benefit of the people of both our nations.
January 17, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Canada moves closer to China in order to reduce its dependency on the USA
Canada PM hails strategic partnership with China to adapt to ‘new global realities’ www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Canada PM hails strategic partnership with China to adapt to ‘new global realities’
Mark Carney holds talks with Xi Jinping on rare Beijing trip as Canada seeks to diversify trade links away from US
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Canada PM hails strategic partnership with China to adapt to ‘new global realities’ www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
Kenya strikes preliminary duty-free trade deal with China reut.rs/45Vicm5
Kenya strikes preliminary duty-free trade deal with China
Kenya has struck a preliminary trade deal with China that would give 98% of its exports duty-free access to the large Chinese market, the Nairobi government said on Thursday, with a full, final agreement in the pipeline.
reut.rs
January 15, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Kenya strikes preliminary duty-free trade deal with China reut.rs/45Vicm5
If Farage says No to Jenrick, then he'll have to sit next to Zarah Sultana 😁
January 15, 2026 at 2:11 PM
If Farage says No to Jenrick, then he'll have to sit next to Zarah Sultana 😁
A Japanese cypress in what once was Sean Connery's garden
January 15, 2026 at 1:08 PM
A Japanese cypress in what once was Sean Connery's garden
Understandably
January 11, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Understandably
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
My distressingly earnest take on a lot of stuff is that the real divide in politics is by people who are ultimately driven by love and joy and those who are primarily driven by hate and anger. Each finds different objects, policies and directions, but the chasm is between rather than among each side
December 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
My distressingly earnest take on a lot of stuff is that the real divide in politics is by people who are ultimately driven by love and joy and those who are primarily driven by hate and anger. Each finds different objects, policies and directions, but the chasm is between rather than among each side
‘They’re scared of us now’: how co-investment in a tropical forest saw off loggers | Panama | The Guardian share.google/a8ZzKHPOoTn8...
‘They’re scared of us now’: how co-investment in a tropical forest saw off loggers
Low-cost tech and joined-up funding have reduced illegal logging, mining and poaching in the Darién Gap – it’s a success story that could stop deforestation worldwide
share.google
December 26, 2025 at 1:05 PM
‘They’re scared of us now’: how co-investment in a tropical forest saw off loggers | Panama | The Guardian share.google/a8ZzKHPOoTn8...
Government response to the Murphy Review of the Windsor Framework (pdf)
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694053...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694053...
December 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Government response to the Murphy Review of the Windsor Framework (pdf)
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694053...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694053...
Contains some interesting data and this map
December 16, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Contains some interesting data and this map
EU countries agree temporary €3 fixed customs charge on low value imports 👇
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
EU approves temporary €3 fixed customs charge on low-value imports
From 1 July 2026, the EU will levy a charge on small parcels entering the bloc, with ecommerce platforms such as Temu and Shein expected to be most affected.
www.euronews.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
EU countries agree temporary €3 fixed customs charge on low value imports 👇
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
Looking at the number of Japanese companies in the UK relative to other European countries, the UK was the only one showing a decline (-9%) from 2015 to 2024. The average increase for the other top 9 European hosts was 15%. Particularly notable was the Netherlands - nearly doubled. 2/
December 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Looking at the number of Japanese companies in the UK relative to other European countries, the UK was the only one showing a decline (-9%) from 2015 to 2024. The average increase for the other top 9 European hosts was 15%. Particularly notable was the Netherlands - nearly doubled. 2/
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
The Fisheries Subsidies Committee will undertake the first systematic international scrutiny of the ratifying members’ subsidies under the agreement’s disciplines, plus information on fish stocks, conservation methods, fishing fleets, vessels identified as involved in illegal fishing, etc.
2/2
2/2
Text: the 2022 WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement
Full text in html of the 2022 WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement with links to the pdf version
tradebetablog.wordpress.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The Fisheries Subsidies Committee will undertake the first systematic international scrutiny of the ratifying members’ subsidies under the agreement’s disciplines, plus information on fish stocks, conservation methods, fishing fleets, vessels identified as involved in illegal fishing, etc.
2/2
2/2
Closing yourself off has always been a harbinger of decline, so it's good to see some countries pushback against protectionism in the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act
www.politico.eu/article/back...
www.politico.eu/article/back...
Backlash builds against EU Commission’s ‘Buy European’ push
A rebellion against Ursula von der Leyen’s calls for a European “preference” in public procurement reveals dueling visions of how to compete against the U.S. and China.
www.politico.eu
December 8, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Closing yourself off has always been a harbinger of decline, so it's good to see some countries pushback against protectionism in the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act
www.politico.eu/article/back...
www.politico.eu/article/back...
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
A bit niche, but important in trade. The 73 members who struck a deal on e-commerce continue to push for a WTO-wide consensus to make it an official “plurilateral” WTO agreement = applying only to some members.
They are now 73 because the Philippines has joined them.
docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
They are now 73 because the Philippines has joined them.
docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
docs.wto.org
December 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
A bit niche, but important in trade. The 73 members who struck a deal on e-commerce continue to push for a WTO-wide consensus to make it an official “plurilateral” WTO agreement = applying only to some members.
They are now 73 because the Philippines has joined them.
docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
They are now 73 because the Philippines has joined them.
docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
The core point in this excellent article and thread on the collapse of German exports to China. To regain competitiveness in manufacturing, there have to be changes in working culture, regulation and/or infrastructure, none of which is likely to be easy or popular.
Industrialists gripe that working cultures, energy costs and bureaucracy are killing the country’s competitiveness.
ILO statistics show that the average German works 29.6 hours a week, compared with 36.1 hours in the United States and 44.8 hours in China.
ILO statistics show that the average German works 29.6 hours a week, compared with 36.1 hours in the United States and 44.8 hours in China.
December 7, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The core point in this excellent article and thread on the collapse of German exports to China. To regain competitiveness in manufacturing, there have to be changes in working culture, regulation and/or infrastructure, none of which is likely to be easy or popular.
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
A customs union is only for goods. What about services?
Joining the EU customs union means UK external tariffs will largely be set by the EU, and that includes things like tariffs to protect Mediterranean orange growers.
Good closer relations might involve more than a 2-word slogan.
Joining the EU customs union means UK external tariffs will largely be set by the EU, and that includes things like tariffs to protect Mediterranean orange growers.
Good closer relations might involve more than a 2-word slogan.
Fortunately David Lammy you have the chance to vote for a customs union by backing our bill next week.
See you in the Aye lobby?
See you in the Aye lobby?
December 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A customs union is only for goods. What about services?
Joining the EU customs union means UK external tariffs will largely be set by the EU, and that includes things like tariffs to protect Mediterranean orange growers.
Good closer relations might involve more than a 2-word slogan.
Joining the EU customs union means UK external tariffs will largely be set by the EU, and that includes things like tariffs to protect Mediterranean orange growers.
Good closer relations might involve more than a 2-word slogan.
I have been inforned that I have 4 grandchildren now, the latest of which had to be saved from being fed to a snake
November 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I have been inforned that I have 4 grandchildren now, the latest of which had to be saved from being fed to a snake
"At some point, a party will have to make the case openly: that the era of demographic tailwinds is over, that the state must either become slimmer or more expensive, and that private consumption and public provision now sit in direct tension" 🎯
🚨🚨 NEW BLOGPOST 🚨🚨
On the Budget, and the challenge that lies underneath it all - that our political culture is still harking back to a demographic sweet spot we've long gone past.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
On the Budget, and the challenge that lies underneath it all - that our political culture is still harking back to a demographic sweet spot we've long gone past.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
Fudged.
A budget, and politics beyond the sweet spot.
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
"At some point, a party will have to make the case openly: that the era of demographic tailwinds is over, that the state must either become slimmer or more expensive, and that private consumption and public provision now sit in direct tension" 🎯
Reposted by Patrick Lohlein
A great point. In lots of places social democrats dislike inheritance tax - some view it as a second tax on already taxed labour! We can argue the merits of that, but the idea that all social democrats are pro the inheritance tax is not accurate.
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A great point. In lots of places social democrats dislike inheritance tax - some view it as a second tax on already taxed labour! We can argue the merits of that, but the idea that all social democrats are pro the inheritance tax is not accurate.
Where I live in West Kent, the houses priced ~£600k are in the same council tax band (D) as the ones priced ~£400k 🤷♂️
It's an easy problem to solve: just revalue councl tax bands. This is looooong overdue.
But the reason it's overdue is that it's politically tricky. If revaluation raises £0 new tax, it will still mean (crudely) half of households will pay less tax, and half will pay more.
But the reason it's overdue is that it's politically tricky. If revaluation raises £0 new tax, it will still mean (crudely) half of households will pay less tax, and half will pay more.
November 25, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Where I live in West Kent, the houses priced ~£600k are in the same council tax band (D) as the ones priced ~£400k 🤷♂️
Higher education is one of the UK's most successful exports and one of its few engines of growth, playing a vital role in the economies of many cities across the country. Why sabotage that?
A recent UCL/More in Common 2025 study has similar findings to other studies on attitudes
23% would reduce international student numbers
24% would increase international student numbers
39% would maintain current levels
(June 2025 fieldwork, published Oct 2025)
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/s...
23% would reduce international student numbers
24% would increase international student numbers
39% would maintain current levels
(June 2025 fieldwork, published Oct 2025)
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/s...
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Higher education is one of the UK's most successful exports and one of its few engines of growth, playing a vital role in the economies of many cities across the country. Why sabotage that?
Very sad to see that @enversol.bsky.social is leaving the Refugee Council. His ability to reach different audiences made him a great spokesman for migrant rights
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘We thought the Rwanda scheme was the worst of it’: Enver Solomon on leading – and leaving – the Refugee Council
It has been a difficult week for those working with refugees and migrants in the UK, after Labour announced controversial new plans. Sadly, Solomon is used to such turmoil. He discusses hostility, hop...
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Very sad to see that @enversol.bsky.social is leaving the Refugee Council. His ability to reach different audiences made him a great spokesman for migrant rights
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Great thread on why the idea of a UK-EU customs union is a non-starter.
(I'd add that the proposed Common Food Safety Area also provides potential to ease a significant number of burdens that being outside the SM and CU created)
(I'd add that the proposed Common Food Safety Area also provides potential to ease a significant number of burdens that being outside the SM and CU created)
There's a prevailing idea in the UK that a customs union with the EU would be a compromise solution if single market membership is not possible, e.g @eddavey.libdems.org.uk and @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social recently. But a customs union is, from a trade policy, a more radical step. (1/N)
November 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Great thread on why the idea of a UK-EU customs union is a non-starter.
(I'd add that the proposed Common Food Safety Area also provides potential to ease a significant number of burdens that being outside the SM and CU created)
(I'd add that the proposed Common Food Safety Area also provides potential to ease a significant number of burdens that being outside the SM and CU created)