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.
The decision in Clive Palmer's first ISDS case against Australia is now public, this was a $300 billion claim that Palmer lost as the Tribunal found he was not a Singaporean investor (Palmer is seeking annulment): pcacases.com/web/sendAtta...
pcacases.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The decision in Clive Palmer's first ISDS case against Australia is now public, this was a $300 billion claim that Palmer lost as the Tribunal found he was not a Singaporean investor (Palmer is seeking annulment): pcacases.com/web/sendAtta...
And the US launches Pax Silica, an initiative focused on AI, critical minerals, etc, supply chains with Australia, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UAE, the UK (and “guests” from Canada, EU, Taiwan and the OECD) www.state.gov/releases/off...
December 14, 2025 at 12:29 AM
And the US launches Pax Silica, an initiative focused on AI, critical minerals, etc, supply chains with Australia, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UAE, the UK (and “guests” from Canada, EU, Taiwan and the OECD) www.state.gov/releases/off...
More detail on the October IPEF supply chain tabletop exercise including that it focused on critical minerals disruptions: biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy...
December 13, 2025 at 10:32 AM
More detail on the October IPEF supply chain tabletop exercise including that it focused on critical minerals disruptions: biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy...
Reposted by Devon Whittle
Three Explanations for the Foreign Investment Pledges
Three Explanations for the Foreign Investment Pledges
In recent months, President Trump and the Trump administration have been touting a $20 trillion or so figure that they say foreign companies/governments have pledged to invest in the U.S. I've had trouble figuring out what to make of all this, but I have three theories
dlvr.it
December 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Three Explanations for the Foreign Investment Pledges
Reposted by Devon Whittle
A New Central Organizing Principle for U.S. Trade
A New Central Organizing Principle for U.S. Trade
In the US Trade Regime class I teach with Matt Nicely, our unit on the regime’s import side has traditionally begun with a review of how the United States classifies trading partners … the “ordinary,” “preferred” and “rogue” categories associated with columns
dlvr.it
December 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A New Central Organizing Principle for U.S. Trade
Not niche at all given all the movement on digital trade of late!
A bit niche, but important in trade. The 73 members who struck a deal on e-commerce continue to push for a WTO-wide consensus to make it an official “plurilateral” WTO agreement = applying only to some members.
They are now 73 because the Philippines has joined them.
docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
They are now 73 because the Philippines has joined them.
docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
docs.wto.org
December 8, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Not niche at all given all the movement on digital trade of late!
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?