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.
And also other initiatives including some joint interpretations for Investment (on NT, MFN, MST, right to regulate, and dominant and effective nationality), and dialogues on economic coercion (to share info and coordinate responses) and market distorting practices. 8/8
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
And also other initiatives including some joint interpretations for Investment (on NT, MFN, MST, right to regulate, and dominant and effective nationality), and dialogues on economic coercion (to share info and coordinate responses) and market distorting practices. 8/8
And tucked in an Annex, more detail on the upgrade - featuring domestic regulation in Services, AI and other issues in E-Commerce, and supply chain resilience. 7/8
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
And tucked in an Annex, more detail on the upgrade - featuring domestic regulation in Services, AI and other issues in E-Commerce, and supply chain resilience. 7/8
No Secretariat yet, but a "Unit" (with upper case U) is coming to "provide administrative support". Report on the Unit due in 2026. 6/8
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
No Secretariat yet, but a "Unit" (with upper case U) is coming to "provide administrative support". Report on the Unit due in 2026. 6/8
The first General Review is done and upgrade negotiations are coming for E-Commerce, Services, Trade Facilitation, and Women's Economic Empowerment. 5/8
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The first General Review is done and upgrade negotiations are coming for E-Commerce, Services, Trade Facilitation, and Women's Economic Empowerment. 5/8
Costa Rica accession still going... just a reporting coming in a month and aim to conclude "in a timely manner". But next negotiation to start with Uruguay, and then potential for UAE, Philippines and Indonesia to commence in 2026 (without any guarantee of membership). 3/8
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Costa Rica accession still going... just a reporting coming in a month and aim to conclude "in a timely manner". But next negotiation to start with Uruguay, and then potential for UAE, Philippines and Indonesia to commence in 2026 (without any guarantee of membership). 3/8
A few references made to economic cooperation and market distorting practices - the former particularly relevant given China's recent measures against Japan. 2/8
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
A few references made to economic cooperation and market distorting practices - the former particularly relevant given China's recent measures against Japan. 2/8
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...
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
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...
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...
Just took a look at the text the EU proposed in its CEPA with Indonesia (on left) - took a new approach of recognising transmissions as services (so in one way broader than CPTPP language, on right) circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/092... No guarantee Indonesia accepted this of course. 1/2
September 29, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Just took a look at the text the EU proposed in its CEPA with Indonesia (on left) - took a new approach of recognising transmissions as services (so in one way broader than CPTPP language, on right) circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/092... No guarantee Indonesia accepted this of course. 1/2
Looking forward to reading the EU-Indonesia CEPA text - particularly on digital. The outcomes factsheet suggests Indonesia has bound its commitment first made to the US to not impose duties on electronic transmissions... (a step towards the JSI?) policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-rel...
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Looking forward to reading the EU-Indonesia CEPA text - particularly on digital. The outcomes factsheet suggests Indonesia has bound its commitment first made to the US to not impose duties on electronic transmissions... (a step towards the JSI?) policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-rel...
India to agree to non-discriminatory treatment of digital products rule in US deal? ecoti.in/eA5Cra89 via @economictimes
September 22, 2025 at 2:04 AM
India to agree to non-discriminatory treatment of digital products rule in US deal? ecoti.in/eA5Cra89 via @economictimes
IPEF hopes still spring eternal? www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/pen...
September 13, 2025 at 12:16 AM
IPEF hopes still spring eternal? www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/pen...
India and Japan Fact Sheet on Economic Security Cooperation includes a reference to IPEF - www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/... #IPEFstillathing (One Indian journalist suggesting its a snub at Trump - theprint.in/diplomacy/sn...)
August 30, 2025 at 2:30 AM
India and Japan Fact Sheet on Economic Security Cooperation includes a reference to IPEF - www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/... #IPEFstillathing (One Indian journalist suggesting its a snub at Trump - theprint.in/diplomacy/sn...)
Australia's Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment has met. Communique is here: www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don...
August 13, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Australia's Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment has met. Communique is here: www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don...
USTR Greer sets out his (Trumps?) vision for global trade and heralds the "Trump Round" of negotiations. This reference to 'enforcement' must be cold comfort for counterparties - unilateral action if the US decides you're in breach and no real recourse if the US decides it doesn't want to comply.
August 7, 2025 at 11:17 PM
USTR Greer sets out his (Trumps?) vision for global trade and heralds the "Trump Round" of negotiations. This reference to 'enforcement' must be cold comfort for counterparties - unilateral action if the US decides you're in breach and no real recourse if the US decides it doesn't want to comply.
IPEF is still a thing? Suggestion India looking at leveraging IPEF (and the Quad) in Trump tariff negotiations
www.livemint.com/politics/pol...
www.livemint.com/politics/pol...
August 7, 2025 at 12:47 AM
IPEF is still a thing? Suggestion India looking at leveraging IPEF (and the Quad) in Trump tariff negotiations
www.livemint.com/politics/pol...
www.livemint.com/politics/pol...
"New Trump tariffs: early modelling shows most economies lose – the US more than many" theconversation.com/new-trump-ta...
August 6, 2025 at 2:54 AM
"New Trump tariffs: early modelling shows most economies lose – the US more than many" theconversation.com/new-trump-ta...
Looks like Japan has released an updated CPTPP Policy (sets KPIs around implementation and policies to achieve): www.cas.go.jp/jp/tpp/tppin...
Also includes reference to using General Review to look at economic coercion (according to Google translation)
Also includes reference to using General Review to look at economic coercion (according to Google translation)
July 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Looks like Japan has released an updated CPTPP Policy (sets KPIs around implementation and policies to achieve): www.cas.go.jp/jp/tpp/tppin...
Also includes reference to using General Review to look at economic coercion (according to Google translation)
Also includes reference to using General Review to look at economic coercion (according to Google translation)
Some good sentiments on upholding international rules, strengthening WTO, collective action, not wanting “might over multilateralism” or forcing outcomes with “economic coercion” from Australia’s Foreign Minister www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/pen...
July 10, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Some good sentiments on upholding international rules, strengthening WTO, collective action, not wanting “might over multilateralism” or forcing outcomes with “economic coercion” from Australia’s Foreign Minister www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/pen...