Inside Trade

October 22, 2025

Brett Fortnam

Brett Fortnam

Brett Fortnam is a Senior Contributing Editor of Inside U.S. Trade and has been with the publication since 2014. He has covered everything from cross-border data flow provisions in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the fight to renew the moratorium on e-commerce duties at the World Trade Organization. Brett closely follows trade negotiations between the U.S. and China that are focused on intellectual property issues, forced technology transfers and other trade concerns. He also covers trade negotiations between the U.S. and European Union, the Commerce Department’s implementation of export control reforms and congressional involvement in trade negotiations. Before joining Inside U.S. Trade, Brett ran the Clinton Courier in upstate New York, where he covered local government, school board meetings and high school sports. He is a graduate of Syracuse University.

Archived Articles

U.S. policy remains major unknown ahead of WTO ministerial in Buenos Aires

As trade ministers from the World Trade Organization's 164 members gather this weekend in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the body's 11th ministerial conference, potential outcomes for the talks are in limbo -- and members are unsure what role the U.S. will decide to play at the meeting, sources said. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will head the U.S. delegation for the ministerial, which takes place from Dec. 10-13. According to a statement from USTR, Lighthizer “will advocate for U.S. economic...

European Commission recommends Brexit talks move to second stage

The European Union and United Kingdom have made sufficient progress in negotiating their so-called “divorce settlement” for the European Commission to recommend that talks move to a second of three stages, during which negotiators will discuss a transitional arrangement between the EU and UK. The last stage of the negotiations will focus on the future relationship between the EU and UK. The British government and European Commission laid out the progress the two sides have made on the UK's disentanglement...

Industry says dropping NAFTA energy chapter would hurt the sector

Representatives from the U.S. and Canadian energy sector want the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to reverse its effort to eliminate the energy chapter in the North American Trade Agreement and instead seek to strengthen its provisions. The U.S. is pushing back on efforts to include an energy-specific chapter in a renegotiated NAFTA, claiming that provisions that cover energy trade are best left to the trade in goods chapter. Chapter six of the original NAFTA covers energy and basic...

Lange, Malmström at odds on whether EU can work with Trump on trade

Bernd Lange, the chairman of the EU Parliament's International Trade Committee, believes the EU will have to wait until President Trump is out of office to substantively engage on trade policy with the U.S., though European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said the the EU and the U.S. can still work together to counter some of China's trade policies. The two EU trade leaders offered opposing views on the potential for trans-Atlantic cooperation on trade policy on Dec. 5 at...

WTO report: Trade remedy use rises, as trade-restrictive measures decline

Countries are using trade remedies slightly more than in previous years while fewer trade restrictive measures are being implemented, according to an annual report on the international trading environment published on Dec. 4 by the World Trade Organization. "So the picture is encouraging, but of course it could be much better," WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo said in remarks made at the Trade Policy Review Body on Monday. "And further progress will require continued commitment. I urge members to redouble...

WTO members expected to commit to continue fisheries talks after MC11

While any outcome on fisheries subsidies is likely to be limited at best at this month's World Trade Organization ministerial, WTO members are expected to agree to language in a ministerial decision that commits to continuing negotiations after Buenos Aires, according to a Geneva trade official. Members are still hammering out language to be included in a draft decision that will be sent to ministers in Buenos Aires. The WTO ministerial is slated for Dec. 10-13. In addition to agreeing...

Lange, Malmström at odds on whether EU can work with Trump on trade

Bernd Lange, the chairman of the EU Parliament's International Trade Committee, believes the EU will have to wait until President Trump is out of office to substantively engage on trade policy with the U.S., though European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said the the EU and the U.S. can still work together counter some of China's trade policies. The two EU trade leaders offered opposing views on the potential for trans-Atlantic cooperation on trade policy on Tuesday at a panel...

WTO report: Trade remedy use on the rise, trade-restrictive measures decline

Countries are using trade remedies slightly more than in previous years while fewer trade restrictive measures are being implemented, according to an annual report on the international trading environment published by the World Trade Organization on Monday. “So the picture is encouraging, but of course it could be much better,” WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo said in remarks made at the Trade Policy Review Body on Monday. “And further progress will require continued commitment. I urge members to redouble efforts...

ITC set to make lumber determinations as WTO gears for ministerial start

The World Trade Organization is making final preparations before kicking off its 11th biennial ministerial on Sunday in Buenos Aires, while the International Trade Commission is girding for a Thursday vote on its final injury determinations in the Canadian softwood lumber cases. Outcomes for this year's ministerial are uncertain, but trade ministers are expected to discuss possible ministerial declarations on fisheries subsidies , public stockholding for food security purposes , and export restrictions. But the issue hanging over the talks...

WTO members expected to commit to continue fisheries talks after MC11

While any outcome on fisheries subsidies is expected to be limited at best at this month's World Trade Organization ministerial, WTO members are expected to agree to language in a ministerial decision that commits to continuing negotiations after Buenos Aires, according to a Geneva trade official. Members are still hammering out language to be included in a draft decision that will be sent to ministers in Buenos Aires. The WTO ministerial is slated for Dec. 10-13. In addition to agreeing...

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