Why Politicians Lie About Trade... and What You Need to Know About It: 'It's great' says the Financial...

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Dmitry Grozoubinski

Why Politicians Lie About Trade... and What You Need to Know About It

'It's great' says the Financial Times

Dmitry Grozoubinski

$52.95

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English

Canbury
23 May 2024

Geopolitics; Economics & Business; International trade; International business; Treaties & other sources of international law; Tariffs

'If you want a two-word review – it’s great.' Alan Beattie, Financial Times

Why Politicians Lie About Trade reveals how international trade really works and the compromises and deals nations must make to take part in the greatest commercial show on earth.

With clear writing and lively case studies, a former trade negotiator takes readers on an often humorous tour of the shadowy workings of the agreements, tariffs, taxes and disputes that characterise this $32 trillion-a-year machine.

Dmitry Grozoubinski reveals the underlying political and geographical forces that shape the impact of trade on topics as diverse and important as food, jobs, gender, conflict and climate change. And he reveals what politicians cover up about the system – and why it matters.

Why Politicians Lie About Trade lights up a little-understood network that runs our world with brevity and humour.

It contains everything you need to know about international trade and is an ideal companion to titles which explain commerce such as the Undercover Economist, Taxtopia and Freakonomics.

This book has been enthusiastically recommended by serious publications such as the Financial Times and the World Trade Review and popular authors such as Ian Dunt and James O'Brien. Ian Dunt wrote: 'I laughed more than I do in most comedies. I learned more than I do from the news.'

Reviews

'For some time, there has been a clear gap in the market for a guide to trade policy to help those with an interest to gain a better understanding of this important field and enable them to engage more actively in trade policy debates. Dmitry Grozoubinski’s Why Politicians Lie About Trade fits the bill admirably.' Justin Brown, the Lowy Institute

'An absolute masterclass in how to communicate complex information simply and compellingly. You will come out of it far more knowledgeable than you went in, and shielded from some of the more egregious deceit politicians want to inflict on you. You'll also laugh out loud.' Ian Dunt, author of How Westminster Works

'Enraging & enlightening in equal measure. And the measure is absolutely enormous.' James O'Brien, author of How They Broke Britain

'Written by a former trade negotiator who has trained many British diplomats, this book is authoritative, yet – and here’s the strange part – actually fun to read. Dmitry Grozoubinski has a rare knack for explaining complex information in an accessible and light-hearted way.' Richard Baldwin, Professor of International Economics

'Writing a 300-page book on international trade policy issues in a way that is not only accessible but also entertaining would be a serious challenge for most authors. Dmitry Grozoubinski’s new book rises to that challenge.' Chris Horseman, Bordelex

'If you want a two-word review, it’s great. It describes official myths and distortions, from overselling trade deals to claiming distance no longer matters in trade to saying corporations control the world by infiltrating the WTO.' Alan Beattie, Financial Times

'Much of the book’s strength lies in its language. It largely avoids technical and academic-style terminology, and the content is presented with a wry and sometimes mischievous sense of humour. This approach makes even the most arcane and obscure parts of the book engaging.' Justin Brown, the Lowy Institute

Introduction

I am very sorry. I once led a trade negotiation so impenetrably dull and infuriating my boss said our top priority was to ensure he never had to explain it to our trade minister. I am fully aware the average human being would rather eat a broken glass salad than read about the small print of a World Trade Organization tariff schedule. I get it. Unfortunately, trade is important and important people keep lying to us about it. In fact, the very fact that important people lie to us about it proves its importance, and its importance is probably what compels those people – let’s call them politicians, though that does leave some liars out – to lie about it.

As technology speeds up the global flow of goods, services, money and ideas, trade policy is growing in importance. Growing, too, is the role of trade in politics, where it is increasingly used as a bludgeon to batter the opposition, or as a magical unicorn that can be ridden to peace and prosperity at no cost to any voter. Tragically, the truth of all this is that while you may have chosen to take little interest in trade policy, trade policy is increasingly taking an interest in you. In the 2020s, trade touches on almost every aspect of our lives and almost all of our passions. Understanding this web of trading connections and the debate over how governments should organise it may no longer be optional.

The good news is that participation in the public debate on trade’s contribution to the things you care about (such as, say, your industry, business, wealth, food, health and our air, rivers and climate) doesn’t require you to be a tenured professor of international economics or to have adopted a favourite treaty footnote.

Instead, to have a working idea of international trade and its critical role in your life and in the affairs of your nation, you need only an awareness of the general shape of matters:

How do things work?

Who are the players?

What are the competing interests?

What questions should I be asking?

So while you don’t need to know the details, you need to know that there are details, and how they could be important. That shields you from opportunistic politicians relying on the density of the subject matter to peddle easy answers, simple narratives and misleading twaddle. Moreover, it can also equip you with the right questions to puncture the inflated rhetoric of political chancers. That’s what I hope to achieve with this book.

I’m still sorry, though. Carry on reading and buy the book

By: Dmitry Grozoubinski
Imprint: Canbury
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 400g
ISBN: 9781914487118
ISBN 10: 1914487117
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 23 May 2024
Audience: General/trade , Adult education , Adult education , ELT Advanced , Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Chapter 1: I’m Sorry You Have to Care 9 Part 1: How Trade Works 19 Chapter 2: Why is Trade Policy? 21 Chapter 3: What is Trade Policy? 45 Chapter 4: Trade’s Policy Drivers 51 Chapter 5: Goods Trade 59 Chapter 6: Services Trade 85 Chapter 7: Free Trade Agreements 101 Chapter 8: Trade Negotiation Secrecy 125 Chapter 9: The World Trade Organization 133 Chapter 10: Trade Integration: Customs Unions 153 Chapter 11: Trade Integration: Regulations and Single Markets 165 Part 2: Trade and the Things You May Actually Care About 177 Chapter 12: Trade and Jobs 179 Chapter 13: Trade and National Security 195 Chapter 14: Trade and Climate Change 215 Chapter 15: Trade and Peace 239 Chapter 16: Trade and Investor State Dispute Settlement 251 Chapter 17: Trade and More 257 Conclusion 277 Index 281 Acknowledgements 297 About the Author 301

"Dmitry Grozoubinski is a negotiations and trade policy expert known for his superpower: an ability to explain the complexities of trade and economics. A former Australian trade negotiator and current Executive Director of the Geneva Trade Platform in Switzerland, he has trained hundreds of government negotiators, civil servants and corporate officers all over the world in how trade policy works, how trade agreements are negotiated, and how those on the outside can shape their outcomes. Dmitry has appeared on TV multiple times, is a frequent guest on radio and podcasts, and has been extensively quoted in agenda-setting media from the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal to Time Magazine and the Economist. Prior to launching his own consultancy, Dmitry represented Australia at the World Trade Organization on such issues as agriculture, trade facilitation, women’s economic empowerment and economic development. He negotiated for Australia at the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference and the 14th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development quadrennial. Dmitry built his consultancy off the back of explaining trade issues and especially the trade implications of Brexit on Twitter, where his account is perhaps the most followed of any trade expert in the world. Since being appointed the first Executive Director of the Geneva Trade Platform, he has helped guide the organization into a position of prominence within the trade landscape. The Platform has hosted the key policy addresses of the United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Vladis Dombrovskis, as well as speeches by Nobel Peace Prize winners, the WTO Director-General and dozens of Ambassadors. Commentators have welcomed his first book, Why Politicians Lie About Trade (Canbury), as an entertaining and informative introduction to international trade. The Financial Times called it ""great"", while the Lowy Institute in Australia hailed its ""wry and sometimes mischievous sense of humour."" In his review, Justin Brown of the Lowy Institute wrote: ""For some time, there has been a clear gap in the market for a guide to trade policy to help those with an interest to gain a better understanding of this important field and enable them to engage more actively in trade policy debates. Dmitry Grozoubinski’s Why Politicians Lie About Trade fits the bill admirably."""

Reviews for Why Politicians Lie About Trade... and What You Need to Know About It: 'It's great' says the Financial Times

'I laughed more than I do in most comedies. I learned more than I do from the news. 'Magnificently concise. Crammed with eye-opening detail. This book will provide you with a shield against the politicians who want to lie to you. 'An absolute masterclass in how to communicate complex information simply and compellingly. You will come out of it far more knowledgeable than you went in, and shielded from some of the more egregious deceit politicians want to inflict on you. You'll also laugh out loud. 'The book politicians don't want you to read.' Ian Dunt, author of How Westminster Works 'Written by a former trade negotiator who has trained many British diplomates, this book is authoritative, yet – and here’s the strange part – actually fun to read. Dmitry Grozoubinski has a rare knack for explaining complex information in an accessible and light-hearted way. Two examples: “A little like municipal plumbing, trade policy is something most people prefer not to think about. It chugs along somewhere behind the scenes, safely ignored until it goes wrong.” “If you take all the romance out of it (which is easily done), a trade negotiation is a conversation between two deeply suspicious and paranoid groups as they work together to agree a binding and lasting agreement.” 'This book should be read by everyone who needs a shield from “opportunistic politicians relying on the density of the subject matter to peddle easy answers, simple narratives, and misleading twaddle”.' Richard Baldwin, Professor of International Economics