Policy area: Trade

Reports

Exploring mechanisms for the return of proceeds of corruption

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores mechanisms for the return of proceeds of corruption. In the report, Maria outlines how the amount of assets returned by destination countries to countries of origin represents only a minimal fraction of the total amount of proceeds lost to corruption. In early 2022, it was estimated that...

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New energy supply chains: is the UK at risk from Chinese dominance?

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines what risks China’s position in global supply chains poses to the physical supply of materials. The report examines what risks China’s position in global supply chains poses to the physical supply of materials, components and final goods in the battery and EV, solar, wind and electricity grid...

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Unearthing environmental and human security risks

This report from UK think tank RUSI outlines how the extraction of critical minerals may pose a threat to the UK's energy transition. In the report, the authors outline how the extraction of critical minerals – while being essential to enable the low-carbon transition – also “poses various environmental and human security risks, many of...

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Saudi Arabia: Kingdom of oil

This report from UK think tank RUSI analyses Saudi Arabia’s oil policy and how it interacts with the Kingdom’s domestic and foreign and security policies. Tobias outlines how oil revenues – which have historically fuelled Saudi Arabia’s social contract – are now the indispensable source of funding for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform agenda. He...

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Natural gas and the Energy Trilemma

This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society examines the role of natural gas in the energy trilemma. In this report we examine the role of natural gas in the Energy Trilemma, focusing specifically on the situation in the United Kingdom. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many countries found themselves in an energy...

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A European strategy for Labour

This report by UK think tank the Centre for European Reform looks at a European strategy for Labour. Britain needs a better deal with the EU than that negotiated by Boris Johnson’s government: the economy is taking a hit, opinion polls show that most Britons want a closer relationship and the tense geopolitical situation highlights...

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Reviewing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement: potential paths

This report from UK think tank UK in a Changing Europe looks at the potential paths for the Trade and Cooperation Agreement On Christmas Eve 2020 the UK and EU finally agreed a treaty to regulate their relationship post Brexit. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement was provisionally applied from 1 January 2021 and formally ratified...

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Future freeports

This report from UK think tank CLES looks at the claims on both sides of the debate and explores how freeports could be done differently. Freeports have been contentious since their announcement. Trade unions, public bodies, think tanks and commentators have all voiced concerns that they will accelerate the extraction of wealth from hard-pressed communities...

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Stronger together: How US–UK collaboration can address China’s growing geopolitical ambition

This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society looks at Washington and London's approach towards China and it's changes.  Washington’s and London’s “business as usual” approach toward the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has fundamentally changed, as most transatlantic policymakers have finally realised the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has its own economic, security...

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Getting in the spirit?

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation looks at alcohol and the Scottish economy. This report from Social Market Foundation think-tank analyses the relationship between alcohol and the Scottish economy, as the Scottish Government is currently consulting on a range of regulations on alcohol marketing to reduce harmful drinking. Our analysis finds...

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Global trade in 2023

This report from UK think tank Chatham House looks at what is driving reglobalization. The current pattern of economic integration and fracturing across different economies and sectors is best described as ‘reglobalization’. Globalization is far from finished, but is changing in nature through countries’ emphasis on stronger regional links and the formation of economic blocs...

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Transatlantic cooperation on the Indo-Pacific

This report from UK think tank Chatham House looks at the factors enabling or inhibiting transatlantic cooperation. With the global economic and strategic centre of gravity shifting eastwards, both Europe and the US are unsurprisingly placing greater focus on the Indo-Pacific. Their respective approaches to the region often overlap but diverge on significant points. These...

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Just a click away

This report from UK think tank the SMF looks at how increasing SME e-commerce exports can boost UK’s economic growth. The UK has had an exports problem. Since the financial crisis of 2008, it has been lagging behind its pre-crisis trend. This has been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, where UK exports have failed...

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Risks to supply-chain resilience

This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society looks at China’s position in the electric vehicle market. China’s dominance in the global electric vehicle supply chain poses geopolitical risks to the West, according to The Henry Jackson Society’s latest report. The paper, published today, highlights the Chinese Communist Party’s dominance in the electric...

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A new era for UK policymaking

This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society looks at an economic denial strategy in the Indo-Pacific. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) poses an alarming threat to the economies within and defence of the free and open Indo-Pacific region, according to a think tank report. The paper, published today, unveils how the...

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Related Articles

How does global trade work?

The growth and extent of world trade is staggering. In 1950, trade accounted for just 8.6% of world output (GDP). By 2008 it accounted for an astonishing 60% of world GDP, involving $20 trillion in goods and over $5 trillion in services. Despite setbacks — financial crises, wars (including Trump-style trade wars) and even pandemics...

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