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 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...
"Piyush Goyal signals clear shift away from competitor countries in India's FTA agenda" www.livemint.com/economy/reca...
Recalibrating global pacts: Piyush Goyal signals clear shift away from competitor countries in India's FTA agenda | Mint
The minister’s remarks underline a recalibration of India’s trade priorities after it walked out of the China-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2019, a move Goyal described as “a b...
www.livemint.com
October 18, 2025 at 4:09 AM
"Piyush Goyal signals clear shift away from competitor countries in India's FTA agenda" www.livemint.com/economy/reca...
Reposted by Devon Whittle
International rule of law news: Viet Nam joins the MPIA (alternative to the WTO Appellate Body).
WTO notification here: docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
European Commission press release here: policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-welc...
WTO notification here: docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
European Commission press release here: policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-welc...
October 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
International rule of law news: Viet Nam joins the MPIA (alternative to the WTO Appellate Body).
WTO notification here: docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
European Commission press release here: policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-welc...
WTO notification here: docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages...
European Commission press release here: policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-welc...
New Zealand and Singapore continue to innovate on trade front, now announcing a new Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies: mfat.govt.nz/AOTES
http://www.mfat.govt.nz/AOTES
t.co
October 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
New Zealand and Singapore continue to innovate on trade front, now announcing a new Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies: mfat.govt.nz/AOTES
Perfect halloween costume: www.spirithalloween.com/product/adul... (via @marginalrev.blogsky.venki.dev)
www.spirithalloween.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Perfect halloween costume: www.spirithalloween.com/product/adul... (via @marginalrev.blogsky.venki.dev)
Great post by @simonlester.com warning of the dangers of the shift to securitization of trade policy: ielp.worldtradelaw.net/2025/10/bewa...
See also this recent East Asia Forum article on how security concerns are reshaping economic cooperation eastasiaforum.org/2025/10/04/s...
See also this recent East Asia Forum article on how security concerns are reshaping economic cooperation eastasiaforum.org/2025/10/04/s...
Beware the "Securitization" of Trade Policy
In recent years, U.S. trade policy has seen a creeping takeover by "security" concerns. The precise scope of these concerns is unclear, but they appear to cover both the traditional aspects of militar...
ielp.worldtradelaw.net
October 7, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Great post by @simonlester.com warning of the dangers of the shift to securitization of trade policy: ielp.worldtradelaw.net/2025/10/bewa...
See also this recent East Asia Forum article on how security concerns are reshaping economic cooperation eastasiaforum.org/2025/10/04/s...
See also this recent East Asia Forum article on how security concerns are reshaping economic cooperation eastasiaforum.org/2025/10/04/s...
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
Indonesian Trade Minister says Hong Kong identified as a priority economy for accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) theedgemalaysia.com/node/771595
Hong Kong seen as priority new member of RCEP, says Indonesian deputy trade minister
Hong Kong has been identified as a priority economy for consideration in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), said Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri.
theedgemalaysia.com
September 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Indonesian Trade Minister says Hong Kong identified as a priority economy for accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) theedgemalaysia.com/node/771595
Lots of bits of interest in the RCEP Ministers' Joint Statement: (1) 2027 General Review is coming; (2) Seeming acceptance that RSU is doing the work of an RCEP Secretariat (?); (3) There was a "Report of the RCEP Dialogue on Electronic Commerce" organised by Japan... 1/2
RCEP, Asia’s largest trade bloc, will seek out ways to enhance intra-regional trade, and may even consider admitting new members, when its leaders meet next month, according to a senior Malaysian official.
RCEP Summit to Discuss Deeper Trade Alignment, Possible New Members, Malaysia Says
The bloc, which includes around a third of global GDP, has assumed greater significance following Washington’s sharp protectionist turn.
buff.ly
September 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Lots of bits of interest in the RCEP Ministers' Joint Statement: (1) 2027 General Review is coming; (2) Seeming acceptance that RSU is doing the work of an RCEP Secretariat (?); (3) There was a "Report of the RCEP Dialogue on Electronic Commerce" organised by Japan... 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...
The UK has published a review of its 2022 Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore, good to see countries not just leaving these agreements in a draw but actively seeing how they can be improved upon and better utilised www.gov.uk/government/p...
Identifying New UK Growth Opportunities Within the UK-Singapore DEA and Future Digital Partnerships
www.gov.uk
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The UK has published a review of its 2022 Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore, good to see countries not just leaving these agreements in a draw but actively seeing how they can be improved upon and better utilised www.gov.uk/government/p...