Trade Policy Decoded

In this episode of Trade Policy Decoded, Pru and Peter provide an update on key trade policy developments over the past fortnight. They delve into the implications of US domestic legal cases aimed at reversing President Trump's Liberation Day and fentanyl tariffs. They also look at other US domestic measures raising concerns for trade partners including budget measures targeting digital services taxes, crackdowns on US universities and National Guard actions in California.

With Peter and Pru having just attended the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's CPTPP Business Symposium, they outline views on the need for economies to band together to counter Trump-created chaos, but equally the difficulty in crossing traditional red lines to foster collaboration. The Australia-EU is a case in point where both sides will need to compromise further to get this agreement across the line.

Find more analysis on the ⁠⁠⁠IIT ⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn Page and ACITI website!

Recorded on 13 June 2025

In this episode of Trade Policy Decoded, Peter and Pru host Fredrik Erixon, a Swedish economist and Founding Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE), in discussing the future of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union's role in its future.

Is it necessary for the EU to join the partnership explicitly? How could the Agreement benefit from EU involvement? These questions and more are decoded and discussed in this episode.

Find more analysis on the ⁠⁠IIT ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠ACITI⁠⁠ LinkedIn Pages!

SPECIAL EPISODE - In this week's instalment of Trade Policy Decoded, Peter and Pru welcome Professor Lu Xiankun, a former senior trade diplomat of China, current Managing Director of the LEDECO Centre Switzerland, and Founder and CEO of the Friends of Multilateralism Group.

Together, the team discusses how recent trade developments are beginning to be perceived in Geneva and the current challenges facing the WTO. The discussion also covers how things might progress moving forward with relevance for both middle power countries and the major powers in global trade.

Find more analysis on the ⁠IIT ⁠and ⁠ACITI⁠ LinkedIn Pages!

In this episode of Trade Policy Decoded, Peter and Pru dive further into the ramifications of the new Trumpian trade policies and their impacts on Australia and the world.

The discussion covers some of the current and potential responses intended to deal with the impending 'reciprocal tariffs' being levied by the US, and how this may influence trade relationships between countries in the near-future.

Find more analysis on the IIT and ACITI LinkedIn Pages!

In this episode of Trade Policy Decoded, Pru and Peter discuss the implications of President Trump's 'Reciprocal Tariffs '. They outline what President Trump announced, the (very few and likely short lived) exemptions, what the tariffs are supposed to achieve, and the (un)likelihood of them ending any time soon.

Peter and Pru also discuss what the new tariffs mean for countries in the ASEAN region and on the African continent, the implications the tariffs could have for regional geopolitical developments, and the impacts and implications for Australian producers and policy makers.

In this instalment of Trade Policy Decoded, Peter Draper and Prudence Gordon discuss the chaotic state of U.S. policy under the Trump administration. They explore the implications of recent tariff announcements, Trump's potential long-game facing China, and the rest of the world's ongoing responses to the reorientation of U.S. foreign policy. The discussion highlights the challenges of navigating a rapidly changing trade landscape and the broader geopolitical implications of U.S. trade decisions.

In this episode of Trade Policy Decoded, Peter Draper and Prudence Gordon discuss the evolving landscape of trade policy under the Trump administration as it enters 2025. They analyze the implications of Trump's Fair and Reciprocal Plan, the impact of tariffs on global trade, and the potential consequences for international relations and the WTO. The conversation also touches on Australia's position in this changing environment and the broader economic implications of these policies.

As 2024 comes to a close, Pru and Peter look back on the key themes Trade Policy Decoded explored over the year - as well as their favourite episodes.
Trade Policy Decoded is taking a break over Christmas and will be back in mid-Feb 2025 with more great discussion on hot trade issues - of which we expect there will be many! Until then, we wish all out listeners a wonderful Christmas and restful New Year.
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Recorded on 9 December 2024.

In this episode of Trade Policy Decoded, Pru and Peter are joined by Professor Andreas Freytag from the Friedrich Schiller University to discuss the trade policy implications of a second Trump Presidency.

The conversation traverses President Trump's promised new tariffs as well as the unresolved trade irritants from his first presidency; China's, the European Union's and Australia's possible responses; and the potential for international trade cooperation without the United States.

Surprisingly, the discussion ends on a positive note!

Measures to reduce domestic carbon emissions at home can impose costs and regulatory requirements on businesses that aren't shared by their international competitors. This can encourage production to move from countries with high emissions reduction standards to countries with low standards - ie carbon leakage. The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is how the EU has tried to address this issue and level the playing field.

In this episode of Trade Polic Decoded, Pru and Peter talk to Professor Frank Jotzo from the Australian National University about his work leading the Australian Government's review of the potential for carbon leakage in Australia. Will Australia introduce its own CBAM? Only Minister Bowen knows but Frank and his team's review provide some useful indicators.