AmPhoenixTrade
@amphoenixtrade.bsky.social
Trade policy architect.
We will also need to come to terms with how the oligarchic version of “free trade” came to dominate the discourse.
americanaffairsjournal.org/2025/08/rele...
americanaffairsjournal.org/2025/08/rele...
November 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
We will also need to come to terms with how the oligarchic version of “free trade” came to dominate the discourse.
americanaffairsjournal.org/2025/08/rele...
americanaffairsjournal.org/2025/08/rele...
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
1/3
This article argues (as The Economist must) that "using trade protection and industrial policy to shore up strategic manufacturing would only accelerate Europe’s decline".
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
This article argues (as The Economist must) that "using trade protection and industrial policy to shore up strategic manufacturing would only accelerate Europe’s decline".
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
To avoid crushing change, Europe must take control of its destiny
If it does not, China will exploit the continent’s weaknesses
www.economist.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 AM
1/3
This article argues (as The Economist must) that "using trade protection and industrial policy to shore up strategic manufacturing would only accelerate Europe’s decline".
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
This article argues (as The Economist must) that "using trade protection and industrial policy to shore up strategic manufacturing would only accelerate Europe’s decline".
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
The let-it-die camp also still has to explain to me why politicians aren’t going to intervene anyway when the pressure mounts further.
The realistic choice in my view is do smart policy or wait for a hot mess of bailouts and crappy policy.
The realistic choice in my view is do smart policy or wait for a hot mess of bailouts and crappy policy.
November 20, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The let-it-die camp also still has to explain to me why politicians aren’t going to intervene anyway when the pressure mounts further.
The realistic choice in my view is do smart policy or wait for a hot mess of bailouts and crappy policy.
The realistic choice in my view is do smart policy or wait for a hot mess of bailouts and crappy policy.
Extraordinary to see 3 world leaders on one op-ed, even from the basic perspective of getting agreemt on language. A powerful statement, especially since Spain was once a colonial power.
The FT ed board has itself said we need to reexamine the social contract.
The FT ed board has itself said we need to reexamine the social contract.
"Extreme levels of inequality are by no means inevitable. They are a policy choice."
www.ft.com/content/9cc0...
www.ft.com/content/9cc0...
Lula, Ramaphosa and Sánchez: We face an inequality emergency
The needs of ordinary people must be placed at the centre of the world’s agenda
www.ft.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Extraordinary to see 3 world leaders on one op-ed, even from the basic perspective of getting agreemt on language. A powerful statement, especially since Spain was once a colonial power.
The FT ed board has itself said we need to reexamine the social contract.
The FT ed board has itself said we need to reexamine the social contract.
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
Is national policy more responsive to the preferences of white Americans than to those of people of color? When Republicans control the presidency and/or the Senate, yes. White voters are more likely to see legislation they support become law than are Black, Latino, or Asian American voters.
#OpenAccess from @apsrjournal.bsky.social -
Race, Responsiveness, and Representation in U.S. Lawmaking - https://cup.org/47BDxm1
- G. AGUSTIN MARKARIAN, @jacobhacker.bsky.social, @maclockhart.bsky.social & ZOLTAN HAJNAL
#FirstView
Race, Responsiveness, and Representation in U.S. Lawmaking - https://cup.org/47BDxm1
- G. AGUSTIN MARKARIAN, @jacobhacker.bsky.social, @maclockhart.bsky.social & ZOLTAN HAJNAL
#FirstView
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Is national policy more responsive to the preferences of white Americans than to those of people of color? When Republicans control the presidency and/or the Senate, yes. White voters are more likely to see legislation they support become law than are Black, Latino, or Asian American voters.
That generation bragged that economics is "value-free," which is why elites felt ok saying "sure, my neighbor's job is being off-shored but that's a good thing." Then they're puzzled that we have a democracy crisis.
Bigger picture, this is where separating policy from values takes you: amorality.
Bigger picture, this is where separating policy from values takes you: amorality.
And if this doesn't solidify the Democratic Party shift away from neoliberalism and the people who espoused it, I don't know what will....
@MoiraDonegan nails the Epstein mess in this column: theguardian.com/commentisfre... "Many of the emails to and from Epstein are marked by a tone of haughty knowingness, a kind of worldly, smug cynicism" which suggests that "morality is for the little people." Couldn't agree more.
November 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
That generation bragged that economics is "value-free," which is why elites felt ok saying "sure, my neighbor's job is being off-shored but that's a good thing." Then they're puzzled that we have a democracy crisis.
Bigger picture, this is where separating policy from values takes you: amorality.
Bigger picture, this is where separating policy from values takes you: amorality.
Surprising he doesn’t mention the ITO Charter. The antimonopoly rules were meant to address the problem of competing with a communist country. Hull was long gone by then, partly because he was out of step with the rest of the admin. WTO negotiators ignored those lessons, and here we are.
1/10
Important Benn Steil article on globalization, free trade, and the cost of underwriting both. He cites Wendell Willkie in 1944 as "recognizing how perilous it would be to integrate market economies with state-directed ones."
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social
prosyn.org/LkdDyx7
Important Benn Steil article on globalization, free trade, and the cost of underwriting both. He cites Wendell Willkie in 1944 as "recognizing how perilous it would be to integrate market economies with state-directed ones."
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social
prosyn.org/LkdDyx7
prosyn.org
November 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Surprising he doesn’t mention the ITO Charter. The antimonopoly rules were meant to address the problem of competing with a communist country. Hull was long gone by then, partly because he was out of step with the rest of the admin. WTO negotiators ignored those lessons, and here we are.
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
A semantic irony of the European Union.
It discusses its economic woes under the header of ‘competitiveness’ instead of ‘growth’ or ‘productivity’.
Even though the economic model of the country that championed economics as a game of maximising exports (competitive!) is kaput.
It discusses its economic woes under the header of ‘competitiveness’ instead of ‘growth’ or ‘productivity’.
Even though the economic model of the country that championed economics as a game of maximising exports (competitive!) is kaput.
November 14, 2025 at 10:05 AM
A semantic irony of the European Union.
It discusses its economic woes under the header of ‘competitiveness’ instead of ‘growth’ or ‘productivity’.
Even though the economic model of the country that championed economics as a game of maximising exports (competitive!) is kaput.
It discusses its economic woes under the header of ‘competitiveness’ instead of ‘growth’ or ‘productivity’.
Even though the economic model of the country that championed economics as a game of maximising exports (competitive!) is kaput.
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
Germany can either get out of its comfort zone and take industrial policy, trade defences, and currency issues seriously — or it can resign itself to deindustrialisation.
China’s $2 trillion manufacturing surplus won’t wait for Berlin to catch up.
13/13
China’s $2 trillion manufacturing surplus won’t wait for Berlin to catch up.
13/13
November 13, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Germany can either get out of its comfort zone and take industrial policy, trade defences, and currency issues seriously — or it can resign itself to deindustrialisation.
China’s $2 trillion manufacturing surplus won’t wait for Berlin to catch up.
13/13
China’s $2 trillion manufacturing surplus won’t wait for Berlin to catch up.
13/13
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
Bundesbank President Nagel - of all people - calling for tougher trade defenses against China’s export glut.
Says a lot about how Germany’s changing position in the world is filtering into its economic thinking.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/bundesbank-p...
Says a lot about how Germany’s changing position in the world is filtering into its economic thinking.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/bundesbank-p...
Welthandel - Bundesbank-Präsident Nagel rät zu offensiverem Umgang mit China
Bundesbank-Präsident Nagel hält in Handelsfragen ein offensiveres Auftreten Europas gegenüber China für angebracht.
www.deutschlandfunk.de
November 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Bundesbank President Nagel - of all people - calling for tougher trade defenses against China’s export glut.
Says a lot about how Germany’s changing position in the world is filtering into its economic thinking.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/bundesbank-p...
Says a lot about how Germany’s changing position in the world is filtering into its economic thinking.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/bundesbank-p...
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
Another gentle reminder.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
A chart Berlin‘s economic policy-makers should think hard about.
Doing a buy-German clause in new EV subsidies would be an own goal.
The German market is simply too small, and lacks sufficient premium demand.
1/
Doing a buy-German clause in new EV subsidies would be an own goal.
The German market is simply too small, and lacks sufficient premium demand.
1/
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Another gentle reminder.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
"The Future of North America"
YouTube video by El Colegio de México A.C.
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
"Weak domestic demand appears to be the missing link in explaining China’s strong exports to Europe – more so than tariff-related trade diversion." - writes ECB staff
Good blog, with nice factoids, but would contend that some of us have been banging the drum on the role of macro policy a while.
1/
Good blog, with nice factoids, but would contend that some of us have been banging the drum on the role of macro policy a while.
1/
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
"Weak domestic demand appears to be the missing link in explaining China’s strong exports to Europe – more so than tariff-related trade diversion." - writes ECB staff
Good blog, with nice factoids, but would contend that some of us have been banging the drum on the role of macro policy a while.
1/
Good blog, with nice factoids, but would contend that some of us have been banging the drum on the role of macro policy a while.
1/
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
Australians will be getting 3 hours of free electricity a day because of how many people have installed solar - this is seriously huge considering the massive solar uptake in Australia happened while the federal government delayed action on climate
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Australian households to get free electricity three hours a day
Saying there is enough solar power for everyone in the daytime, the federal government will direct retailers to provide three hours of free power every day to consumers.
www.abc.net.au
November 4, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Australians will be getting 3 hours of free electricity a day because of how many people have installed solar - this is seriously huge considering the massive solar uptake in Australia happened while the federal government delayed action on climate
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
“When oligarchs can capture regulatory systems, when tech platforms can shape electoral outcomes, when concentrated wealth can buy political influence—you’re arguing about whether democratic majorities have authority to constrain private power at all.”
open.substack.com/pub/mikebroc...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebroc...
Liberalism’s Death Has Been Greatly Exaggerated
Why the crisis everyone mourns reveals liberal tradition at its most vital
open.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
“When oligarchs can capture regulatory systems, when tech platforms can shape electoral outcomes, when concentrated wealth can buy political influence—you’re arguing about whether democratic majorities have authority to constrain private power at all.”
open.substack.com/pub/mikebroc...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebroc...
Terrific essay. Pope Francis was unequivocal in his rejection of neoliberalism (Fratelli Tutti), and Pope Leo is emphasizing the need for an economy that works for the have-nots. These positions are consistent with a return to Catholic social teaching.
My latest piece, in the @ftweekend.com on.ft.com/49siwvd The ascension of America’s Catholic right
The ascension of America’s Catholic right
[FREE TO READ] Catholics and labour groups are re-emerging as a powerful force in the new political landscape — and their votes are up for grabs as never before
on.ft.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Terrific essay. Pope Francis was unequivocal in his rejection of neoliberalism (Fratelli Tutti), and Pope Leo is emphasizing the need for an economy that works for the have-nots. These positions are consistent with a return to Catholic social teaching.
It was also connected to the Milton Friedman/Chicago School focus on the consumer, a shift away from the more holistic New Deal (and Founding Father) focus on protecting against concentrated economic power. It’s why trade and antitrust conversations are traveling a similar path.
3/3
Their argument was based on models of global trade that assumed balanced trade, nonintervention in industry, and prices set by the market. That none of these assumptions were true didn't seem to matter to their conclusions.
www.ft.com/content/8911...
Their argument was based on models of global trade that assumed balanced trade, nonintervention in industry, and prices set by the market. That none of these assumptions were true didn't seem to matter to their conclusions.
www.ft.com/content/8911...
Do consumers benefit from cheaper imports?
Domestic production should be prioritised over cheap consumer imports
www.ft.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It was also connected to the Milton Friedman/Chicago School focus on the consumer, a shift away from the more holistic New Deal (and Founding Father) focus on protecting against concentrated economic power. It’s why trade and antitrust conversations are traveling a similar path.
Public Citizen surfaces concerns about what’s in these agreements and whether they reinforce a deregulatory model. We’re heading into USMCA review season. Is this what we should expect?
October 31, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Public Citizen surfaces concerns about what’s in these agreements and whether they reinforce a deregulatory model. We’re heading into USMCA review season. Is this what we should expect?
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
i don’t think you can maximin vote share with polls and spreadsheets, and i think it is a problem that the most prominent and influential political commentators right now are more devotees of data than experts in narrative
October 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
i don’t think you can maximin vote share with polls and spreadsheets, and i think it is a problem that the most prominent and influential political commentators right now are more devotees of data than experts in narrative
🎯
While Trump and Carney debate who's better at resurrecting Ronald Reagan, trade expert Beth Baltzan explains why free trade today looks more like Reganomics than the internationalization of FDR's New Deal.
Watch: youtu.be/_nOlyx8zNa0?...
Watch: youtu.be/_nOlyx8zNa0?...
While Trump touts his "big, beautiful bill," @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social senior fellow Beth Baltzan reminds us of a different vision — one where trade served working people, not corporate profits.
Full clip: perspectivesjournal.ca/new-deal-progressive-trade/
Full clip: perspectivesjournal.ca/new-deal-progressive-trade/
October 30, 2025 at 7:13 PM
🎯
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
Listen to @theameilee.bsky.social and @toddntucker.com talk about trade policy & what’s really at stake. It’s not just about stuff, it’s about people.
Trade isn’t just about goods—it’s about power.
@theameilee.bsky.social explains how ignoring labor rights in global trade fueled inequality and political instability, and why trade must start with workers, not corporations.
🎧 The last episode of our Trade series is live ➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
@theameilee.bsky.social explains how ignoring labor rights in global trade fueled inequality and political instability, and why trade must start with workers, not corporations.
🎧 The last episode of our Trade series is live ➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
October 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Listen to @theameilee.bsky.social and @toddntucker.com talk about trade policy & what’s really at stake. It’s not just about stuff, it’s about people.
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
Always thought it was sad that Ayn Rand—one of the most successful authors of children's fantasy books of all time—had little enough saved in the bank in her old age that she had to rely on public assistance until her death, but I'm glad it was there for her.
October 28, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Always thought it was sad that Ayn Rand—one of the most successful authors of children's fantasy books of all time—had little enough saved in the bank in her old age that she had to rely on public assistance until her death, but I'm glad it was there for her.
Reposted by AmPhoenixTrade
I think USTR under Biden made huge inroads in opening up public engagement, but there's always more to do. If we get the chance to rebuild from the ashes, hopefully we can hire back a more diverse and representative policy workforce, and thus a more pluralistic and democratic one as well.
October 28, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I think USTR under Biden made huge inroads in opening up public engagement, but there's always more to do. If we get the chance to rebuild from the ashes, hopefully we can hire back a more diverse and representative policy workforce, and thus a more pluralistic and democratic one as well.