Global Trade Watch
@pcgtw.bsky.social
Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, promoting government & corporate accountability in #globalization and #trade since 1995.
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Global Trade Watch
@pcgtw.bsky.social
· Dec 11
Trump’s critical minerals push is locking the Global South into raw extraction while corporations take the profit.
Our new report with Satya Bumi exposes how. ⬇️
Our new report with Satya Bumi exposes how. ⬇️
Today, Congress will discuss Trump’s deals with DR Congo.
Here’s what to know about his neo-colonial grab for the Congo’s “critical minerals.”
@houseforeign.bsky.social
Here’s what to know about his neo-colonial grab for the Congo’s “critical minerals.”
@houseforeign.bsky.social
January 22, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Today, Congress will discuss Trump’s deals with DR Congo.
Here’s what to know about his neo-colonial grab for the Congo’s “critical minerals.”
@houseforeign.bsky.social
Here’s what to know about his neo-colonial grab for the Congo’s “critical minerals.”
@houseforeign.bsky.social
What is Trump’s agenda for critical minerals?
The deal with Malaysia reveals not partnership, but exploitation. He used tariff threats to force Malaysia into giving the U.S. unfettered access to its critical minerals with almost nothing in return.
The deal with Malaysia reveals not partnership, but exploitation. He used tariff threats to force Malaysia into giving the U.S. unfettered access to its critical minerals with almost nothing in return.
January 21, 2026 at 7:57 PM
What is Trump’s agenda for critical minerals?
The deal with Malaysia reveals not partnership, but exploitation. He used tariff threats to force Malaysia into giving the U.S. unfettered access to its critical minerals with almost nothing in return.
The deal with Malaysia reveals not partnership, but exploitation. He used tariff threats to force Malaysia into giving the U.S. unfettered access to its critical minerals with almost nothing in return.
Trump’s Greenland threats show just how far he’s willing to abuse trade policy to advance an authoritarian and imperialist agenda.
January 20, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Trump’s Greenland threats show just how far he’s willing to abuse trade policy to advance an authoritarian and imperialist agenda.
"I’m the tariff king and the tariff king has done a great job."
Sure, a great job bullying countries on behalf of billionaires & undermining our reputation around the world.
Unfortunately, for U.S. workers, just like Tiger King, we are never going to financially recover.
Sure, a great job bullying countries on behalf of billionaires & undermining our reputation around the world.
Unfortunately, for U.S. workers, just like Tiger King, we are never going to financially recover.
January 16, 2026 at 7:51 PM
"I’m the tariff king and the tariff king has done a great job."
Sure, a great job bullying countries on behalf of billionaires & undermining our reputation around the world.
Unfortunately, for U.S. workers, just like Tiger King, we are never going to financially recover.
Sure, a great job bullying countries on behalf of billionaires & undermining our reputation around the world.
Unfortunately, for U.S. workers, just like Tiger King, we are never going to financially recover.
Trump is launching a new wave of trade talks to secure access to other countries' “critical minerals.”
No accountability. No public input. More harm to communities and the environment. Congress must assert its authority, now.
No accountability. No public input. More harm to communities and the environment. Congress must assert its authority, now.
January 15, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Trump is launching a new wave of trade talks to secure access to other countries' “critical minerals.”
No accountability. No public input. More harm to communities and the environment. Congress must assert its authority, now.
No accountability. No public input. More harm to communities and the environment. Congress must assert its authority, now.
AI rules. Data privacy protections. Anti-monopoly laws.
Big Tech is lobbying to dismantle them worldwide, trading public welfare for their profit.
Big Tech is lobbying to dismantle them worldwide, trading public welfare for their profit.
The tech industry has no better friend in its drive for deregulation and tax avoidance around the world than Donald Trump. His bullying has led countries to give up their sovereign power to safeguard the public interest. And now Big Tech is asking for more. From me:
prospect.org/2026/01/13/t...
prospect.org/2026/01/13/t...
Where Big Tech and Trump Are Demanding Tax Cuts and Deregulation - The American Prospect
A new analysis shows that Big Tech is seeking changes to national law in 64 countries. The Trump regime is helping them.
prospect.org
January 13, 2026 at 2:54 PM
AI rules. Data privacy protections. Anti-monopoly laws.
Big Tech is lobbying to dismantle them worldwide, trading public welfare for their profit.
Big Tech is lobbying to dismantle them worldwide, trading public welfare for their profit.
From Argentina to Zimbabwe, Big Tech is lobbying to roll back digital regulations across the globe. 🌍
Our new map tracks 200+ policies in 60+ jurisdictions that Big Tech lobbyists have asked Trump to attack. See it for yourself ⬇️
Our new map tracks 200+ policies in 60+ jurisdictions that Big Tech lobbyists have asked Trump to attack. See it for yourself ⬇️
January 13, 2026 at 2:31 PM
From Argentina to Zimbabwe, Big Tech is lobbying to roll back digital regulations across the globe. 🌍
Our new map tracks 200+ policies in 60+ jurisdictions that Big Tech lobbyists have asked Trump to attack. See it for yourself ⬇️
Our new map tracks 200+ policies in 60+ jurisdictions that Big Tech lobbyists have asked Trump to attack. See it for yourself ⬇️
Earlier trade deals at least pretended to be reciprocal. Not anymore.
Trump’s critical-mineral agreements are openly designed to maximize corporate profits by locking the Global South into extraction while offering them virtually nothing in return.
Trump’s critical-mineral agreements are openly designed to maximize corporate profits by locking the Global South into extraction while offering them virtually nothing in return.
January 12, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Earlier trade deals at least pretended to be reciprocal. Not anymore.
Trump’s critical-mineral agreements are openly designed to maximize corporate profits by locking the Global South into extraction while offering them virtually nothing in return.
Trump’s critical-mineral agreements are openly designed to maximize corporate profits by locking the Global South into extraction while offering them virtually nothing in return.
Big Tech, with Trump’s backing, wants the world to believe regulation = discrimination.
In reality, South Korea’s digital competition rules apply to U.S. and Korean firms alike.
Calling them “anti-U.S.” is a bad-faith excuse to protect monopolies.
In reality, South Korea’s digital competition rules apply to U.S. and Korean firms alike.
Calling them “anti-U.S.” is a bad-faith excuse to protect monopolies.
January 9, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Big Tech, with Trump’s backing, wants the world to believe regulation = discrimination.
In reality, South Korea’s digital competition rules apply to U.S. and Korean firms alike.
Calling them “anti-U.S.” is a bad-faith excuse to protect monopolies.
In reality, South Korea’s digital competition rules apply to U.S. and Korean firms alike.
Calling them “anti-U.S.” is a bad-faith excuse to protect monopolies.
President Trump started the process yesterday of withdrawing the United States from 66 international organizations, including 30 United Nations and other global bodies dedicated to fighting climate change and eradicating poverty and violence.
January 8, 2026 at 6:16 PM
President Trump started the process yesterday of withdrawing the United States from 66 international organizations, including 30 United Nations and other global bodies dedicated to fighting climate change and eradicating poverty and violence.
The extraction and refining of nickel has devastated biodiversity, contaminated water sources, and displaced Indigenous and coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems.
Without action, we’ll keep seeing stories just like Lahari’s.
Without action, we’ll keep seeing stories just like Lahari’s.
January 7, 2026 at 8:21 PM
The extraction and refining of nickel has devastated biodiversity, contaminated water sources, and displaced Indigenous and coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems.
Without action, we’ll keep seeing stories just like Lahari’s.
Without action, we’ll keep seeing stories just like Lahari’s.
Behind every “critical minerals” deal is a simple question: who benefits?
Under Trump’s approach, it’s not the “poorer” nations where such minerals are found — it’s the big corporations that extract and export them.
Under Trump’s approach, it’s not the “poorer” nations where such minerals are found — it’s the big corporations that extract and export them.
January 6, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Behind every “critical minerals” deal is a simple question: who benefits?
Under Trump’s approach, it’s not the “poorer” nations where such minerals are found — it’s the big corporations that extract and export them.
Under Trump’s approach, it’s not the “poorer” nations where such minerals are found — it’s the big corporations that extract and export them.
Trade policy shouldn’t be a backdoor for Big Tech to dodge accountability.
Without oversight from Congress and the public, these deals will keep concentrating power upward, leaving people and countries with fewer choices and fewer protections.
Without oversight from Congress and the public, these deals will keep concentrating power upward, leaving people and countries with fewer choices and fewer protections.
January 5, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Trade policy shouldn’t be a backdoor for Big Tech to dodge accountability.
Without oversight from Congress and the public, these deals will keep concentrating power upward, leaving people and countries with fewer choices and fewer protections.
Without oversight from Congress and the public, these deals will keep concentrating power upward, leaving people and countries with fewer choices and fewer protections.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement lets corporations pressure governments, dodge domestic courts, and undermine public-interest regulation. It was largely removed from USMCA for good reason.
The review should eliminate ISDS entirely, not restore it.
The review should eliminate ISDS entirely, not restore it.
January 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Investor-State Dispute Settlement lets corporations pressure governments, dodge domestic courts, and undermine public-interest regulation. It was largely removed from USMCA for good reason.
The review should eliminate ISDS entirely, not restore it.
The review should eliminate ISDS entirely, not restore it.
All Trump wants for Christmas is unregulated Big Tech. 🎄🤖☠️
Visa bans and trade threats against countries and individuals holding Big Tech companies accountable say it all.
Visa bans and trade threats against countries and individuals holding Big Tech companies accountable say it all.
December 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
All Trump wants for Christmas is unregulated Big Tech. 🎄🤖☠️
Visa bans and trade threats against countries and individuals holding Big Tech companies accountable say it all.
Visa bans and trade threats against countries and individuals holding Big Tech companies accountable say it all.
During Trump’s first administration, bailout money from his erratic policies went straight to the banks and big corporations, while small farmers went under.
We can’t let this happen again.
We can’t let this happen again.
December 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
During Trump’s first administration, bailout money from his erratic policies went straight to the banks and big corporations, while small farmers went under.
We can’t let this happen again.
We can’t let this happen again.
Big business is trying to restore NAFTA’s corporate courts. They want the U.S. to give companies more power to challenge governments.
ISDS hurts communities and undermines environmental and public health rules. The USMCA review should dismantle ISDS completely, not revive it.
ISDS hurts communities and undermines environmental and public health rules. The USMCA review should dismantle ISDS completely, not revive it.
December 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Big business is trying to restore NAFTA’s corporate courts. They want the U.S. to give companies more power to challenge governments.
ISDS hurts communities and undermines environmental and public health rules. The USMCA review should dismantle ISDS completely, not revive it.
ISDS hurts communities and undermines environmental and public health rules. The USMCA review should dismantle ISDS completely, not revive it.
In November, we saw the announcement of four “trade agreements,” and Big Tech is the clear winner.
Big Tech has won terms that limit the ability of Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala to regulate tech companies in the public interest.
Big Tech has won terms that limit the ability of Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala to regulate tech companies in the public interest.
December 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
In November, we saw the announcement of four “trade agreements,” and Big Tech is the clear winner.
Big Tech has won terms that limit the ability of Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala to regulate tech companies in the public interest.
Big Tech has won terms that limit the ability of Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala to regulate tech companies in the public interest.
BREAKING: 50 members of Congress say Trump’s tariffs on Brazil are a shameful attack on democracy – undermining efforts to hold coup-instigator Bolsonaro accountable and to regulate social media accounts spreading hate speech and political misinformation online.
December 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
BREAKING: 50 members of Congress say Trump’s tariffs on Brazil are a shameful attack on democracy – undermining efforts to hold coup-instigator Bolsonaro accountable and to regulate social media accounts spreading hate speech and political misinformation online.
Big Tech already got unprecedented new powers when Trump “renegotiated” NAFTA.
Now the deal is up for review, and the tech billionaires are demanding even more.
Now the deal is up for review, and the tech billionaires are demanding even more.
December 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Big Tech already got unprecedented new powers when Trump “renegotiated” NAFTA.
Now the deal is up for review, and the tech billionaires are demanding even more.
Now the deal is up for review, and the tech billionaires are demanding even more.
Trump won’t tell the public about his secret plans for the trade deal with Canada and Mexico, which could have major impacts on all of us.
Our Director has thoughts ⤵️
Our Director has thoughts ⤵️
December 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Trump won’t tell the public about his secret plans for the trade deal with Canada and Mexico, which could have major impacts on all of us.
Our Director has thoughts ⤵️
Our Director has thoughts ⤵️
Who benefits from Indonesia’s nickel?
👷♂️Not workers.
🧑🌾Not communities.
🌳Not the environment.
U.S. pressure is undermining Indonesia’s industrial strategy; Indonesia should profit most from its resources, period.
👷♂️Not workers.
🧑🌾Not communities.
🌳Not the environment.
U.S. pressure is undermining Indonesia’s industrial strategy; Indonesia should profit most from its resources, period.
December 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Who benefits from Indonesia’s nickel?
👷♂️Not workers.
🧑🌾Not communities.
🌳Not the environment.
U.S. pressure is undermining Indonesia’s industrial strategy; Indonesia should profit most from its resources, period.
👷♂️Not workers.
🧑🌾Not communities.
🌳Not the environment.
U.S. pressure is undermining Indonesia’s industrial strategy; Indonesia should profit most from its resources, period.
Trump’s critical minerals push is locking the Global South into raw extraction while corporations take the profit.
Our new report with Satya Bumi exposes how. ⬇️
Our new report with Satya Bumi exposes how. ⬇️
December 11, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Trump’s critical minerals push is locking the Global South into raw extraction while corporations take the profit.
Our new report with Satya Bumi exposes how. ⬇️
Our new report with Satya Bumi exposes how. ⬇️
Trump’s U.S.-Malaysia deal shows exactly how he’s bending rules to control Global South minerals.
The “soft law” approach allows Trump to reshape other countries’ mineral policy without:
❌ Congress
❌ Public debate
It’s executive overreach on a global scale.
The “soft law” approach allows Trump to reshape other countries’ mineral policy without:
❌ Congress
❌ Public debate
It’s executive overreach on a global scale.
December 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Trump’s U.S.-Malaysia deal shows exactly how he’s bending rules to control Global South minerals.
The “soft law” approach allows Trump to reshape other countries’ mineral policy without:
❌ Congress
❌ Public debate
It’s executive overreach on a global scale.
The “soft law” approach allows Trump to reshape other countries’ mineral policy without:
❌ Congress
❌ Public debate
It’s executive overreach on a global scale.
Public Citizen + 35 orgs are calling on the Trump administration to halt secret critical-minerals deals that pose serious risks to transparency, human rights, workers, the environment, and national sovereignty.
December 9, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Public Citizen + 35 orgs are calling on the Trump administration to halt secret critical-minerals deals that pose serious risks to transparency, human rights, workers, the environment, and national sovereignty.