Simon Lester
@simonlester.com
Founded WorldTradeLaw.net & ChinaTradeMonitor.com Non-Resident Fellow @bakerinstitute.bsky.social
Trade Policy feed: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xqzu2eazvxb5fohoc4nap33y/feed/aaab5ctu4u4fc
Trade Policy feed: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xqzu2eazvxb5fohoc4nap33y/feed/aaab5ctu4u4fc
Pinned
Simon Lester
@simonlester.com
· Apr 3
I see lots of new followers popping up today. I assume you are here for the trade policy, in which case you might like my custom trade policy feed: bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Simon Lester
When my kids were young, I told myself I'd support them in whatever they wanted to do, but prayed it wouldn't be getting into anime. Now, though, something even worse than that has happened: My sixteen year old, taking AP Government, cheerfully announced, "Reading SCOTUS cases is a lot of fun!"
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 AM
When my kids were young, I told myself I'd support them in whatever they wanted to do, but prayed it wouldn't be getting into anime. Now, though, something even worse than that has happened: My sixteen year old, taking AP Government, cheerfully announced, "Reading SCOTUS cases is a lot of fun!"
Reposted by Simon Lester
"do you think the French are better?"
Trump says that HBCUs would be "all be out of business" if fewer Chinese students were allowed to go to American universities
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 AM
"do you think the French are better?"
Somebody is talking about these things to him, and he's giving a garbled version of whatever was said. I would be very surprised if this goes anywhere, but nevertheless I'm curious what it is people are saying that he is garbling.
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Somebody is talking about these things to him, and he's giving a garbled version of whatever was said. I would be very surprised if this goes anywhere, but nevertheless I'm curious what it is people are saying that he is garbling.
Reposted by Simon Lester
I feel terrible for our country but this is tremendous content.
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
I feel terrible for our country but this is tremendous content.
Reposted by Simon Lester
A lot of the critiques of liberalization with China almost always miss 1) What they would've done instead, 2) That China is it own country with power and agency and ability to chose its own direction, and China chose illiberalism, 3) China's scale and governance model always made it an awkward fit
November 10, 2025 at 10:44 PM
A lot of the critiques of liberalization with China almost always miss 1) What they would've done instead, 2) That China is it own country with power and agency and ability to chose its own direction, and China chose illiberalism, 3) China's scale and governance model always made it an awkward fit
Reposted by Simon Lester
I think there was an internal split among the American primacists between focusing on China and focusing on the Middle East (Saddam & Iran). And that split (and subsequently the inherent stickiness of the Middle East) has defined US foreign policy since then.
November 10, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I think there was an internal split among the American primacists between focusing on China and focusing on the Middle East (Saddam & Iran). And that split (and subsequently the inherent stickiness of the Middle East) has defined US foreign policy since then.
Reposted by Simon Lester
Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in the challenge to President Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs. Joshua Villanueva, Kristijan Barnjak, and Rebecca Qiu provide an overview of the arguments and the justices’ line of questioning.
Oral Argument Summary: Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (Tariffs)
At stake is whether IEEPA authorizes tariff measures, and if so, whether that delegation violates constitutional principles of nondelegation.
lawfaremedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in the challenge to President Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs. Joshua Villanueva, Kristijan Barnjak, and Rebecca Qiu provide an overview of the arguments and the justices’ line of questioning.
Reposted by Simon Lester
It’s not the “economic team” who is responsible. This is what the President wants, and it’s what he’s getting.
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 PM
It’s not the “economic team” who is responsible. This is what the President wants, and it’s what he’s getting.
The annual budget deficit is already around $1.8 trillion, and any checks sent to the people will just mean higher borrowing.
Hassett: "I think it's back on the table to think about what to do with those tariff revenues. I'm sure the president will discuss with congressional leaders whether because of all of the extra tax revenue, there is more room to get checks back to people."
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The annual budget deficit is already around $1.8 trillion, and any checks sent to the people will just mean higher borrowing.
The good news about all that foreign investment money is that we wouldn't have to pay it back because we don't actually have it.
Trump claims the U.S. would need to repay $2 trillion if the Supreme Court overturned his tariffs. He says that covers "tariff revenue and investments," which presumably includes the deals from Japan, Korea, etc. Credible estimates of tariff revenue are less than 10% of that.
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The good news about all that foreign investment money is that we wouldn't have to pay it back because we don't actually have it.
Reposted by Simon Lester
Trump claims the U.S. would need to repay $2 trillion if the Supreme Court overturned his tariffs. He says that covers "tariff revenue and investments," which presumably includes the deals from Japan, Korea, etc. Credible estimates of tariff revenue are less than 10% of that.
November 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Trump claims the U.S. would need to repay $2 trillion if the Supreme Court overturned his tariffs. He says that covers "tariff revenue and investments," which presumably includes the deals from Japan, Korea, etc. Credible estimates of tariff revenue are less than 10% of that.
Reposted by Simon Lester
$2,000 tariff dividends would cost $600 billion a year and if paid annually would raise the debt to 134% of GDP (from ~100%) by 2035, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates.
November 10, 2025 at 8:08 PM
$2,000 tariff dividends would cost $600 billion a year and if paid annually would raise the debt to 134% of GDP (from ~100%) by 2035, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates.
Reposted by Simon Lester
This is also said about Europe's approach to China and I simply don't believe this is true. I was at conferences with senior US folk in the early 2010s and none thought China would become more democratic or liberal.
We thought we could compete.
We thought we could compete.
November 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This is also said about Europe's approach to China and I simply don't believe this is true. I was at conferences with senior US folk in the early 2010s and none thought China would become more democratic or liberal.
We thought we could compete.
We thought we could compete.
Reposted by Simon Lester
What's crazy about this take is how the Sydney Sweeney discourse flared up again on X last week but was completely ignored on here. His brain is cooked on reactionary discourse and thinks everyone has his warped conception of a view on it.
the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
November 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
What's crazy about this take is how the Sydney Sweeney discourse flared up again on X last week but was completely ignored on here. His brain is cooked on reactionary discourse and thinks everyone has his warped conception of a view on it.
Reposted by Simon Lester
The European Commission is exploring ways to force European Union member states to phase out Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. from their telecommunications networks
EU Eyes Banning Huawei From Mobile Networks of Member Countries
The European Commission is exploring ways to force European Union member states to phase out Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. from their telecommunications networks, according to people with the matter.
www.bloomberg.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The European Commission is exploring ways to force European Union member states to phase out Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. from their telecommunications networks
Reposted by Simon Lester
Blueskyism is actually a fantasy of Bluesky, formed by ignorance and reactionary hope (that this place is full of stereotypes that justify them hanging out with the less objectionable Nazis).
the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Blueskyism is actually a fantasy of Bluesky, formed by ignorance and reactionary hope (that this place is full of stereotypes that justify them hanging out with the less objectionable Nazis).
Reposted by Simon Lester
"After Zohran Mamdani’s victory, Republicans are fearmongering about Democrats turning socialist. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is busy taking stakes in private companies and ordering them around"--my latest column.
www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...
www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...
Socialism, But Make It Trump
After Zohran Mamdani’s victory, Republicans are fearmongering about Democrats turning socialist. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is busy taking stakes in private companies and ordering them around.
www.newyorker.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
"After Zohran Mamdani’s victory, Republicans are fearmongering about Democrats turning socialist. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is busy taking stakes in private companies and ordering them around"--my latest column.
www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...
www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...
Reposted by Simon Lester
Wendy Cutler, a leading expert on US-Asia trade issues, will speak here at the U of Nebraska-Lincoln on Nov 19 on US-Japanese trade ties. Free and open to the public; also livestreamed
Our university's Yeutter Institute is a cosponsor
@simonlester.com
news.unl.edu/article/cutl...
Our university's Yeutter Institute is a cosponsor
@simonlester.com
news.unl.edu/article/cutl...
Cutler to discuss U.S.-Japanese economic ties on Nov. 19 | Nebraska Today
Wendy Cutler, senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute and former acting deputy U.S. trade representative, will discuss “What’s Next for U.S.-Japan Trade?” from 4 to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 i...
news.unl.edu
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Wendy Cutler, a leading expert on US-Asia trade issues, will speak here at the U of Nebraska-Lincoln on Nov 19 on US-Japanese trade ties. Free and open to the public; also livestreamed
Our university's Yeutter Institute is a cosponsor
@simonlester.com
news.unl.edu/article/cutl...
Our university's Yeutter Institute is a cosponsor
@simonlester.com
news.unl.edu/article/cutl...
Reposted by Simon Lester
Trump's Cambodia Trade Deal, Arms Exports, and the Role of Non-Trade Concessions
Trump's Cambodia Trade Deal, Arms Exports, and the Role of Non-Trade Concessions
In this post, I'm going to talk about some aspects of the recent U.S. trade deal with Cambodia that I haven't heard raised yet, including the following questions: (1) Is the decision to allow U.S. arms exports to Cambodia pursuant to this deal designed
dlvr.it
November 10, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Trump's Cambodia Trade Deal, Arms Exports, and the Role of Non-Trade Concessions
One thing I've wondered about on the trade deals governments are signing with Trump is, what are others getting out of this? In my latest IELP post I look at an example from the Cambodia deal, under which Trump removed an arms embargo imposed by Biden that cited human rights and corruption concerns.
Trump's Cambodia Trade Deal, Arms Exports, and the Role of Non-Trade Concessions
In this post, I'm going to talk about some aspects of the recent U.S. trade deal with Cambodia that I haven't heard raised yet, including the following questions: (1) Is the decision to allow U.S. arm...
ielp.worldtradelaw.net
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
One thing I've wondered about on the trade deals governments are signing with Trump is, what are others getting out of this? In my latest IELP post I look at an example from the Cambodia deal, under which Trump removed an arms embargo imposed by Biden that cited human rights and corruption concerns.
I hope Michelle Obama gets royalties every time Republicans talk about what are basically her healthy lifestyle programs.
Rep. John McGuire: "We need to rethink healthcare in America. It needs to be a preventative healthcare system, not a reactive, put-a-bandaid-on system that we have...you cannot exercise your way out of bad nutrition. Eat right, exercise right, lead a healthy lifestyle, & maybe have early screenings"
November 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I hope Michelle Obama gets royalties every time Republicans talk about what are basically her healthy lifestyle programs.
Just added quotes from @dorfonlaw.bsky.social and @stevevladeck.bsky.social to my roundup of commentary on the IEEPA tariff cases.
Roundup of IEEPA Hearing Commentary
I listened to today's Supreme Court hearing on the IEEPA tariff cases, but it was clear to me that I am not well-positioned to offer good insights on how the Court might rule. (The transcript is here ...
ielp.worldtradelaw.net
November 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Just added quotes from @dorfonlaw.bsky.social and @stevevladeck.bsky.social to my roundup of commentary on the IEEPA tariff cases.
Reposted by Simon Lester
Reposted by Simon Lester
Andre Drummond brought his dog, Bob Marley, to the game and he is now sitting at the podium with Drummond.
This is incredible content.
This is incredible content.
November 10, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Andre Drummond brought his dog, Bob Marley, to the game and he is now sitting at the podium with Drummond.
This is incredible content.
This is incredible content.