Another day when I'm grateful that for any given subject on which my knowledge is limited there's probably several genuine experts on twitter who will produce some near enough instant analysis, others who make you stop with a one-tweet insight (and let's forget the conspiracists)
There's a provocative question to ask on whether government needs (or will ever be able to keep) such experts. Or whether the key job of those in government is to apply expert analysis to the delivery of policy - considering the multiple factors in doing so.
What makes trade complicated is less the negotiation than the underlying analysis, trade-offs between different interests, the way the detail affects particular businesses and sectors, the limits of the possible in reducing trade barriers. That requires a well functioning system.
And it's easy to see what happens when government makes decisions in negotiations without full analysis - trade wars with opposite effects of those intended, parts of a country treated differently without any acknowledgement.
Of course negotiations and policies can get lost in endless analysis with ministers afraid to take decisions. You need balance. Finding that is another important skill of officials. But I fear that populist times means too much action without thought, and too much glibness. /end
