Devon Whittle
@devonwhittle.bsky.social
Previously w/ @dfat & @agdgovau, and private practice. Worked on #ISDS #RCEP #CPTPP #IPEF #WTO JSIs #deepseabedmining. Views only my own.
Australia's steel industry has lodged a safeguard application requesting the government apply temporary emergency measures to protect the industry as it is "facing an unprecedented surge in imports"
www.steel.org.au/news-and-eve...
www.steel.org.au/news-and-eve...
Australian Steel Institute - Emergency govt measures sought in the wake of a surge in low-priced imported steelwork
The Australian steel industry has sought emergency trade relief measures to address a surge in low-priced imported fabricated steelwork threatening the local industry
www.steel.org.au
November 28, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Australia's steel industry has lodged a safeguard application requesting the government apply temporary emergency measures to protect the industry as it is "facing an unprecedented surge in imports"
www.steel.org.au/news-and-eve...
www.steel.org.au/news-and-eve...
Singapore’s running consultations on UAE’s accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) www.mti.gov.sg/newsroom/pub...
Public Consultation on the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA)
www.mti.gov.sg
November 27, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Singapore’s running consultations on UAE’s accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) www.mti.gov.sg/newsroom/pub...
Australia's Trade Minister says "we're very confident that by the end of the year Costa Rica will have fulfilled all of its obligations to join the CPTPP, and that we will have our 13th member." www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don...
November 25, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Australia's Trade Minister says "we're very confident that by the end of the year Costa Rica will have fulfilled all of its obligations to join the CPTPP, and that we will have our 13th member." www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don...
Quite a lot in the CPTPP Joint Ministerial Statement today - economic coercion, accession update, general review, a "Unit" (not Secretariat), and more www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem... 1/8
www.dfat.gov.au
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Quite a lot in the CPTPP Joint Ministerial Statement today - economic coercion, accession update, general review, a "Unit" (not Secretariat), and more www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem... 1/8
CPTPP-ASEAN Trade & Investment Dialogue Joint Ministerial Statement also out: www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem.... Similar language - but some differences e.g. reference to "fair" not just "free and open" markets, reg coherence added to cooperation areas, etc.
November 20, 2025 at 9:34 PM
CPTPP-ASEAN Trade & Investment Dialogue Joint Ministerial Statement also out: www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem.... Similar language - but some differences e.g. reference to "fair" not just "free and open" markets, reg coherence added to cooperation areas, etc.
CPTPP-EU Trade and Investment Dialogue Joint Ministerial Statement is out: www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem... - lots of politically important statements, plus points to work on digital trade, supply chain resilience, WTO reform and more. Next Dialogue in 2026.
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
CPTPP-EU Trade and Investment Dialogue Joint Ministerial Statement is out: www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem... - lots of politically important statements, plus points to work on digital trade, supply chain resilience, WTO reform and more. Next Dialogue in 2026.
Australia's Dept of Industry, Science and Resources has launched a consultation on reforms to Australia's trade remedies system (submissions due 14 Dec) - "Australia faces heightened risks from unfairly priced imports and shifting regulatory landscapes": consult.industry.gov.au/strengthenin...
November 19, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Australia's Dept of Industry, Science and Resources has launched a consultation on reforms to Australia's trade remedies system (submissions due 14 Dec) - "Australia faces heightened risks from unfairly priced imports and shifting regulatory landscapes": consult.industry.gov.au/strengthenin...
Interesting tool from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy - the Anatomy of Choice Alignment Index shows how ASEAN’s Member States have shifted between China and the US on range of indicators including trade www.hinrichfoundation.com/research/art...
November 18, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Interesting tool from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy - the Anatomy of Choice Alignment Index shows how ASEAN’s Member States have shifted between China and the US on range of indicators including trade www.hinrichfoundation.com/research/art...
Enjoyed this redaction from a New Zealand cabinet paper release - I wonder what the AEM meetings were dominated by...
www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/OIA/O...
www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/OIA/O...
November 17, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Enjoyed this redaction from a New Zealand cabinet paper release - I wonder what the AEM meetings were dominated by...
www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/OIA/O...
www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/OIA/O...
CPTPP Commission meeting in Melbourne (Australia's best city) this week: www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don...
www.trademinister.gov.au
November 17, 2025 at 3:01 AM
CPTPP Commission meeting in Melbourne (Australia's best city) this week: www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don...
Australia is calling for submissions for the General Reviews of its FTAs with China (dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem...) and Indonesia (dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem...)
dfat.gov.au
November 7, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Australia is calling for submissions for the General Reviews of its FTAs with China (dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem...) and Indonesia (dfat.gov.au/trade/agreem...)
“China edging toward membership of Trans-Pacific Partnership framework” 🤔 www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/06/...
China edging toward membership of Trans-Pacific Partnership framework
www.chinadaily.com.cn
November 7, 2025 at 5:54 AM
“China edging toward membership of Trans-Pacific Partnership framework” 🤔 www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/06/...
Malaysia’s MITI has released a FAQ on its recent Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the US: www.miti.gov.my/ART including pushback on idea that it requires Malaysia to follow US trade measures
November 6, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Malaysia’s MITI has released a FAQ on its recent Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the US: www.miti.gov.my/ART including pushback on idea that it requires Malaysia to follow US trade measures
The line gets longer…
Philippines and UAE apply to join CPTPP to counter Trump tariffs
trib.al/DVLLfTr
trib.al/DVLLfTr
Philippines and UAE apply to join CPTPP to counter Trump tariffs
Trans-Pacific trade bloc set to grow as global economy faces fragmentation risk
trib.al
November 4, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The line gets longer…
Reposted by Devon Whittle
a secretariat for CPTPP is a great idea
The CPTPP has so many applicants that it is now mulling setting up a secretariat - great scoop from our roving Pacific reporter (he wishes!) @chrishorseman.bsky.social borderlex.net/2025/11/03/c...
CPTPP members mull forming secretariat as applicant numbers swell - Borderlex - European trade policy
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borderlex.net
November 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
a secretariat for CPTPP is a great idea
Jotted down some of my thoughts on last week’s US deals with Cambodia and Malaysia, focused on services and digital trade: open.substack.com/pub/tradenot...
November 2, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Jotted down some of my thoughts on last week’s US deals with Cambodia and Malaysia, focused on services and digital trade: open.substack.com/pub/tradenot...
US threats to use software export controls leading others to diversify away from US software...
The International Criminal Court (ICC) will switch its internal work environment away from Microsoft Office to Open Desk, a European open source alternative, the institution confirmed to Euractiv.
www.euractiv.com/news/interna...
www.euractiv.com/news/interna...
International Criminal Court to ditch Microsoft Office for European open source alternative | Euractiv
The court will move its internal work environment to Open Desk, a German-developed open source software
www.euractiv.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:33 AM
US threats to use software export controls leading others to diversify away from US software...
RCEP Leaders Summit Statement is out (asean.org/wp-content/u...) Two points: 1) the commitment to not breach RCEP, potentially pointed at requirements in new US deals? 2) RCEP General Review & digital trade, would upgrading digital trade rules conflict with US deals?
October 29, 2025 at 7:25 AM
RCEP Leaders Summit Statement is out (asean.org/wp-content/u...) Two points: 1) the commitment to not breach RCEP, potentially pointed at requirements in new US deals? 2) RCEP General Review & digital trade, would upgrading digital trade rules conflict with US deals?
Lots being written on the US deals with Malaysia, Cambodia, etc. Some of this drafting is interesting - this provision just refers to "certain countries". Assume the details will be agreed later?
October 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Lots being written on the US deals with Malaysia, Cambodia, etc. Some of this drafting is interesting - this provision just refers to "certain countries". Assume the details will be agreed later?
ASEAN announces substantial conclusion of Digital Economy Framework Agreement negotiations, including provisions on data flows, e-payments, MLETR, personal data, and AI cooperation. Looking forward to seeing the text! asean.org/asean-econom...
October 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM
ASEAN announces substantial conclusion of Digital Economy Framework Agreement negotiations, including provisions on data flows, e-payments, MLETR, personal data, and AI cooperation. Looking forward to seeing the text! asean.org/asean-econom...
The ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force is preparing “a report that will assess the impact, key risks and opportunities arising from external uncertainties, formulate policy recommendations for Asean to navigate these challenges, and coordinate responses” theedgemalaysia.com/node/775211
Opinion: This time it is different
As Chairs of the Asean Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF), we are pleased to present the first Asean Geoeconomics Report (AGR) 2025, which is the basis of discussion for the very first Asean Foreign Minis...
theedgemalaysia.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force is preparing “a report that will assess the impact, key risks and opportunities arising from external uncertainties, formulate policy recommendations for Asean to navigate these challenges, and coordinate responses” theedgemalaysia.com/node/775211
The 9th CPTPP Commission meeting is coming in just a few weeks in Melbourne. This includes an EU-CPTPP Dialogue (www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...) and an ASEAN-CPTPP Dialogue (www.oananews.org/node/707155). It will be interesting to see what statements/outcomes result from each...
New Zealand’s bid to bring European and Asia-Pacific trading blocs together pays off
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, concerned about Trump tariffs, pushed for EU and CPTPP collaboration. The trading blocs will meet at the end of the year.
www.thepost.co.nz
October 24, 2025 at 6:40 AM
The 9th CPTPP Commission meeting is coming in just a few weeks in Melbourne. This includes an EU-CPTPP Dialogue (www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...) and an ASEAN-CPTPP Dialogue (www.oananews.org/node/707155). It will be interesting to see what statements/outcomes result from each...
IPEF is still a thing! South Korea is hosting a "joint drill on responding to a possible global supply chain crisis" as chair of IPEF's Supply Chain Crisis Response Network www.koreaherald.com/article/1059...
October 23, 2025 at 5:15 AM
IPEF is still a thing! South Korea is hosting a "joint drill on responding to a possible global supply chain crisis" as chair of IPEF's Supply Chain Crisis Response Network www.koreaherald.com/article/1059...
I do like how much China has attached "RCEP" to so many events and things - here is an announcement about the "RCEP Member States World Heritage Cooperation Alliance" consisting of Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam en.people.cn/n3/2025/1018...
RCEP heritage alliance signs first cooperation agreements - People's Daily Online
HEFEI, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The RCEP Member States World Heritage Cooperation Alliance (RCEP-WHCA) on
en.people.cn
October 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I do like how much China has attached "RCEP" to so many events and things - here is an announcement about the "RCEP Member States World Heritage Cooperation Alliance" consisting of Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam en.people.cn/n3/2025/1018...
Bangladesh's RCEP accession application moves forward thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/ban...
Bangladesh's RCEP bid enters formal evaluation stage
Bangladesh's pursuit of membership in the world's largest trade bloc -- the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) -- has officially entered a structured evaluation process, marking a key ...
thefinancialexpress.com.bd
October 20, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Bangladesh's RCEP accession application moves forward thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/ban...