David Henig
@davidheniguk.bsky.social
Trade wonk, Brexit bore, globalisation defender, music lover, cricketer, gardener, supporter of mediocre football teams, who knows where the time goes?
Pinned
David Henig
@davidheniguk.bsky.social
· Oct 15
The New World of Trade – How 40 Years of Change Brought Globalisation Without Trust
Making sense of daily trade policy turbulence has become a major challenge. President Trump is just one part of a complex ever-changing picture.Stop the world to catch up is an understandable respons
ecipe.org
"How 40 years of change brought globalisation without trust" - my latest long read (based on a talk given this morning) seems immediately relevant given further US-China tensions over global supply chains.
Global markets are a reality --->
ecipe.org/blog/the-new...
Global markets are a reality --->
ecipe.org/blog/the-new...
Reposted by David Henig
Great report by @rhistorer.bsky.social on yet another bit of the state in tatters because of short-termist sensiblism:
bsky.app/profile/rhis...
bsky.app/profile/rhis...
February 19, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Great report by @rhistorer.bsky.social on yet another bit of the state in tatters because of short-termist sensiblism:
bsky.app/profile/rhis...
bsky.app/profile/rhis...
Wow. Thoughts with the many employees who are absolutely not to blame for what has happened, now facing considerable uncertainty.
FT exclusive:
Global Counsel, the advisory firm founded by Lord Peter Mandelson, is set to go into administration as soon as Friday in the wake of revelations about the former peer and Jeffrey Epstein, its staff have been told.
www.ft.com/content/ad5d...
Global Counsel, the advisory firm founded by Lord Peter Mandelson, is set to go into administration as soon as Friday in the wake of revelations about the former peer and Jeffrey Epstein, its staff have been told.
www.ft.com/content/ad5d...
February 19, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Wow. Thoughts with the many employees who are absolutely not to blame for what has happened, now facing considerable uncertainty.
Killer conclusion - "Unless the EU finds a better way to align its domestic political and institutional incentives in line with its external aims, its ambitions will continue to outrun its capacity to deliver."
New from me: a short piece on what comes next for the EU-Mercosur deal (spoiler: more trouble), and what ratification hurdles tell us about the EU's capacity to deliver on its geoeconomic ambitions.
The EU wants trade to do geopolitics, but the #Mercosur deal is a reminder that signing isn't delivering.
New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @antonspisak.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/IESx33T
New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @antonspisak.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/IESx33T
February 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Killer conclusion - "Unless the EU finds a better way to align its domestic political and institutional incentives in line with its external aims, its ambitions will continue to outrun its capacity to deliver."
Reposted by David Henig
A good-sized portion of the British right has lobbied/ conspired with a foreign power to achieve this outcome.
BREAKING: Keir Starmer has delayed the legislation handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius
February 19, 2026 at 11:13 AM
A good-sized portion of the British right has lobbied/ conspired with a foreign power to achieve this outcome.
Recollections of life working on UK trade when ministers or whoever would say how wonderful it was that a member of the royal family was taking such an interest and officials having to deal with said individual worked hard to merely raise half an eyebrow
February 19, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Recollections of life working on UK trade when ministers or whoever would say how wonderful it was that a member of the royal family was taking such an interest and officials having to deal with said individual worked hard to merely raise half an eyebrow
On balance, this question of absent UK trade thought leadership deserves an answer.
I think multiple strands - Brexit delusions, special relationship, lack of political interest, simplism more than context, excessive secrecy, and one misjudged appointment.
I think multiple strands - Brexit delusions, special relationship, lack of political interest, simplism more than context, excessive secrecy, and one misjudged appointment.
EU/CPTPP is in the news again. Why is Canada leading this, and not ... Britain?
And it is so full of RoO stuff, that I need a MFN newsletter just on this, @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social.
www.politico.eu/article/eu-a...
And it is so full of RoO stuff, that I need a MFN newsletter just on this, @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social.
www.politico.eu/article/eu-a...
Carney constructs a mega anti-Trump trade alliance
The Canadian prime minister is spearheading discussions between the EU and a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc after calling on middle powers to join forces.
www.politico.eu
February 19, 2026 at 9:56 AM
On balance, this question of absent UK trade thought leadership deserves an answer.
I think multiple strands - Brexit delusions, special relationship, lack of political interest, simplism more than context, excessive secrecy, and one misjudged appointment.
I think multiple strands - Brexit delusions, special relationship, lack of political interest, simplism more than context, excessive secrecy, and one misjudged appointment.
The what now? Chinese luxury brands emerging... round up twice the usual amount of French protectionism... www.ft.com/content/f839...
When China is chic, European luxury brands should worry
Country is no longer seen as a factory pumping out cheap copycat goods
www.ft.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:15 AM
The what now? Chinese luxury brands emerging... round up twice the usual amount of French protectionism... www.ft.com/content/f839...
I think this is what I want to see in politicians addressing issues with some context, it is just that this clip begs so many questions like my old favourite of why factory jobs lost to technology were somehow better than what came after - the whole services economy.
You shouldn't need a degree to afford a decent life 🎓
February 19, 2026 at 8:53 AM
I think this is what I want to see in politicians addressing issues with some context, it is just that this clip begs so many questions like my old favourite of why factory jobs lost to technology were somehow better than what came after - the whole services economy.
So if you were a Chinese government prioritising survival in office why would you commit to a rebalancing of spending towards consumers when as far as you can see western governments become more unpopular the further they go in this direction?
www.ft.com/content/296d...
www.ft.com/content/296d...
IMF calls on China to halve industrial subsidies
International concerns have mounted over the impact of the country’s economic policies
www.ft.com
February 19, 2026 at 7:49 AM
So if you were a Chinese government prioritising survival in office why would you commit to a rebalancing of spending towards consumers when as far as you can see western governments become more unpopular the further they go in this direction?
www.ft.com/content/296d...
www.ft.com/content/296d...
No competition.
"You better watch out you better beware
Albert said that E equals MC squared"
"You better watch out you better beware
Albert said that E equals MC squared"
What’s the best song lyric in history?
February 18, 2026 at 8:38 PM
No competition.
"You better watch out you better beware
Albert said that E equals MC squared"
"You better watch out you better beware
Albert said that E equals MC squared"
Yes. Playing into my wider thesis that we really don't like the results of policy choices over the last x years whether high minimum wages, significant levels of regulation, or free trade. Not helped by politicians not trying to own them as delivering something better.
My column
Everyone loves progressive tax changes in theory but seem to hate them when they face the consequeuences
One for UK graduates on Plan 2 loans to read...
as.ft.com/r/d9c65a3c-1...
Everyone loves progressive tax changes in theory but seem to hate them when they face the consequeuences
One for UK graduates on Plan 2 loans to read...
as.ft.com/r/d9c65a3c-1...
February 18, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Yes. Playing into my wider thesis that we really don't like the results of policy choices over the last x years whether high minimum wages, significant levels of regulation, or free trade. Not helped by politicians not trying to own them as delivering something better.
Fairly simply a Reform or Conservative government would take us back to economic reality denial in which there would be a lot of shouting about sovereignty and then the government would have to do as the major companies and markets demand of us.
February 18, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Fairly simply a Reform or Conservative government would take us back to economic reality denial in which there would be a lot of shouting about sovereignty and then the government would have to do as the major companies and markets demand of us.
Perhaps thinking about this locals actually have been "failed by politics" because if leaders won't explain their choices, the BBC is unlikely to do so, and you have people receiving tokenistic promises which can't deliver what they suggest.
This sort of framing of stories about 'left behind' places is getting very tired. How have they been 'failed' by politics? They are the product of political choices - which organisations like the BBC have often failed to explain to people.
Inside Horden, the County Durham town failed by politics
In Horden, County Durham, Westminster slogans have long been left unmet as the population has plummeted.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Perhaps thinking about this locals actually have been "failed by politics" because if leaders won't explain their choices, the BBC is unlikely to do so, and you have people receiving tokenistic promises which can't deliver what they suggest.
Another story in which Chinese "over-capacity" is transforming the world - this time Electric Vehicles in Ethiopia.
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Electric Vehicle Sales Boom as Ethiopia Bans Fossil-Fuel Car Imports
The East African country is making use of cheap hydropower and Chinese electric vehicles to ditch the internal combustion engine.
www.bloomberg.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Another story in which Chinese "over-capacity" is transforming the world - this time Electric Vehicles in Ethiopia.
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The world keeps changing while Europe and the US have insular debates about whether to return to a former time.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Entertaining idea that the EU Industrial Accelerator Act is delayed because they can't decide whether the UK is European or not, but the truth is a fundamental divide in EU economic policy between French-led protectionists and the traditional open trade members. www.politico.eu/article/eus-...
Von der Leyen’s industry master plan runs into trouble
Nine European Commission departments pan the Industrial Accelerator Act, leaving the landmark proposal in a tough spot.
www.politico.eu
February 18, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Entertaining idea that the EU Industrial Accelerator Act is delayed because they can't decide whether the UK is European or not, but the truth is a fundamental divide in EU economic policy between French-led protectionists and the traditional open trade members. www.politico.eu/article/eus-...
Mona and I are on competing WTO discussions this afternoon! So join her and that starred panel, or me and some very eminent folk... www.wita.org/events/wto-m...
February 18, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Mona and I are on competing WTO discussions this afternoon! So join her and that starred panel, or me and some very eminent folk... www.wita.org/events/wto-m...
Reposted by David Henig
@ec.europa.eu adopts proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of EU-UK Agreement in respect of Gibraltar. Key points of last June's political agreement👇. Expect Mail, DTel etc to cry 'surrender', but well done David Lammy as Foreign Secretary ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
February 18, 2026 at 8:51 AM
@ec.europa.eu adopts proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of EU-UK Agreement in respect of Gibraltar. Key points of last June's political agreement👇. Expect Mail, DTel etc to cry 'surrender', but well done David Lammy as Foreign Secretary ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Escaping an international spiral of economic distrust means new international rules to handle Chinese over-capacity and US coercion (which will also capture that of others including China and the EU). This article covers the first and why it is needed. www.hinrichfoundation.com/research/art...
China’s industrial policy is a recipe for overcapacity | Article | Hinrich Foundation
How international rules adapt to China’s industrial scale — the country’s greatest strength and greatest liability — will determine the future of open markets.
www.hinrichfoundation.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Escaping an international spiral of economic distrust means new international rules to handle Chinese over-capacity and US coercion (which will also capture that of others including China and the EU). This article covers the first and why it is needed. www.hinrichfoundation.com/research/art...
"Fun" at least for Simon. An EU-UK agreement of unknown content.
Some notes on the coming fun with Gibraltar
tl;dr There's an agreement, that needs to be in place for 10 April, but no one knows exactly what it is yet
1/
tl;dr There's an agreement, that needs to be in place for 10 April, but no one knows exactly what it is yet
1/
February 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"Fun" at least for Simon. An EU-UK agreement of unknown content.
Lot of folk on this site doing very well to hide their obvious disappointment at not being picked for the Reform 'shadow cabinet'
I’m in Westminster where Nigel Farage is about to unveil his ‘shadow cabinet’ and the decor is slightly bonkers. Looks like he’s going to launch a Simon Cowell-era boyband instead.
February 17, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Lot of folk on this site doing very well to hide their obvious disappointment at not being picked for the Reform 'shadow cabinet'
Gutted to see Australia knocked out of the World 20:20 cricket.
Said very few people.
Said very few people.
February 17, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Gutted to see Australia knocked out of the World 20:20 cricket.
Said very few people.
Said very few people.
My latest for @borderlex.net - in which I try to introduce some much needed focus into EU economic security. At core this needs to be about diversity in supply and demand, some new tools are needed to achieve this, and this should start with neighbours. borderlex.net/2026/02/17/p...
Perspectives: EU economic security begins with neighbours - Borderlex - European trade policy
EU will only succeed in its economic security policy if it starts by stopping coercing its direct neighbours, argues David Henig.
borderlex.net
February 17, 2026 at 12:06 PM
My latest for @borderlex.net - in which I try to introduce some much needed focus into EU economic security. At core this needs to be about diversity in supply and demand, some new tools are needed to achieve this, and this should start with neighbours. borderlex.net/2026/02/17/p...
Reposted by David Henig
Constant reactions to what has been a period of profound chance since c 2000. Confusingly, this isn’t change in the sense of the guillotine (sudden, decisive), its change in fits and starts with the contours of the pre-system still visible - pronounced elements of continuity as well as change.
An age of insecurity reflected in so many stories today... sometimes tipping over into fear... starting with a story that I first heard last year, fears for other economies if a Trump administration tampered with payment systems... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK bank bosses plan to set up Visa and Mastercard alternative amid Trump fears
Exclusive: First meeting to be held over domestic payments system aimed at reducing reliance on US networks
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Constant reactions to what has been a period of profound chance since c 2000. Confusingly, this isn’t change in the sense of the guillotine (sudden, decisive), its change in fits and starts with the contours of the pre-system still visible - pronounced elements of continuity as well as change.
No mention of trade on which UK and Canada have not had the best of relationships.
Keir Starmer and @mark-carney.bsky.social agree on 'a more European NATO' www.gov.uk/government/n...
PM call with Prime Minister Carney of Canada: 16 February 2026
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney.
www.gov.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
No mention of trade on which UK and Canada have not had the best of relationships.
Back in 2009 when I was working on regulatory simplification something called the "trade single window" was included as an entry. 17 years later, notwithstanding last government boosterism and growing importance due to Brexit, it appears to have failed. Embarrassing. www.ft.com/content/186f...
UK quietly shelves £110mn frictionless post-Brexit trade border project
Experts criticise halt to programme that had used Deloitte and IBM as contractors
www.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Back in 2009 when I was working on regulatory simplification something called the "trade single window" was included as an entry. 17 years later, notwithstanding last government boosterism and growing importance due to Brexit, it appears to have failed. Embarrassing. www.ft.com/content/186f...