WITA's Friday Exchange

In this week's episode, our trade insiders examine the ongoing USMCA review process, including proposed tariff actions on Canada and Mexico and the debate over how trade deficits should be interpreted in the context of integrated North American supply chains. The panel discusses the possibility of a U.S. withdrawal threat as a negotiating tool, the role of Chinese investment in Canada and Mexi...

In this week's episode, our trade insiders dig into the USMCA review process. With the upcoming trilateral meeting on July 1, anything and everything is up for debate. Our former negotiators unpack the divergence over rules of origin, the rising cost of steel and aluminum, and the slow march toward a North American trade fortress. The insiders also cover the summer of the 301s, USTR’s half-dea...

On this week’s episode of WITA’s Friday Exchange, our trade insiders discussed the Trump administration’s new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran and its implications for global trade, energy markets, and supply chains. They also examined the future of the Strait of Hormuz, including how provisions that could give Iran a larger role in the waterway’s management may affect maritime governan...

This week’s episode is a “travel log” edition as our panel returns fresh off trips to Beijing, Brussels, and Berlin. The discussion explores rising concerns over China’s industrial overcapacity, the expanding use of trade defense tools like Section 301, and the legal and policy timelines shaping upcoming U.S. tariff actions. In Europe, policymakers are balancing stability under recent trade arrang...

On this week's episode of WITA's Friday Exchange, our trade insiders debate the the administration's Section 301 announcements on forced labor and the coming announcements on over capacity; and whether the Section 301 investigations and expected tariffs are a legitimate and durable trade policy tool or simply a pretext to recreate the IEEPA tariffs and extract leverage from trading par...

In this week's episode, the OG trade insiders dive into the developing new trade world paradigm; Secretary Rubio's visit to India; the EU moving forward to implement the Turnberry agreement with the U.S., and confronting their own China contradictions.  Our former negotiators also talk about tariff uncertainty over the impending 301 tariffs (a feature, not a bug?), and what these new devel...

Following the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, trade officials are still searching for substance beneath the strategic ambiguity. This week, our panel unpacked what the proposed “Board of Trade” with China could actually mean. Does it signal genuine cooperation, managed trade, or simply another mechanism for managing the US-China relationship? While both sides appear willing to keep talking, panelists...

After much anticipation the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing turned out to be heavy on atmospherics but light on substance. After doing the YMCA at the state dinner, the two super-powers seemed to bury their beefs (and “permit” more beef imports), and agree to agree to keep talking. This week, our trade experts discuss whether there were any actual deliverables outside the spectacle, and how the US-Chin...

A major court ruling on Section 122 tariffs is shaking up the trade landscape and raising new questions about how far presidential tariff authority can go. Our trade experts break down the narrow but consequential decision, the legal battle over “balance of payments” language, and the long-term prospects for the President tariffs after court rulings invalidating tariffs imposed under IEEPA and Sec...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders examine mounting pressures on the global trading system that is getting squeezed like a tube of toothpaste, as geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions reshape priorities. With conflict in the Gulf tightening energy supplies and economic stability taking precedence, countries across Asia and Europe are stepping back from ne...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders look beyond the headlines to examine what’s really happening on your screens and behind the scenes in trade discussions. The importance of USCMA to “big square states”; rethinking rules of origin; critical minerals, “unfair trade practices,” and trade with China. Our discussants also looked at choke points and leverage, China and cri...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders unpack the administration’s evolving trade strategy from IEEPA tariffs, to new 122, 232 and 301 tariffs.  Our trade experts also discuss new rules for calculating steel and aluminum tariffs on things like whipped cream, beer and autos, and are the new tariffs driving up costs and confusion for manufacturers?  Our speakers also discus...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders bring the heat! This week’s episode goes beyond a recap, it’s a full-on debate about the future of U.S. trade policy. Is Washington playing a high-stakes game to rebuild supply chains and outmaneuver non-market economies, or is it simply overplaying its hand? We also explore the ripple effects: smaller companies feeling pressure, inv...

On April 2nd, 2025 President Trump Announced his “Liberation Day” Tariffs and to paraphrase Hamilton (the musical, not the statesman) the world of trade turned upside-down. This webinar, WITA welcomed back the Trade Reporters to discuss this monumental year in trade. Featured Speakers: Shawn Donnan , Senior Writer, Bloomberg David Lynch , Global Economics Correspondent, The Washington Post Ana Swa...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders shine the spotlight on Europe, potential steel controversies, and the future of multilateralism. We break down the European Parliament’s not-so-enthusiastic move to advance the Turnberry Agreement with the U.S., while building in “sunrise” and “sunset” safeguards that allow the EU to walk away if Washington changes course. They also...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders break down the evolving uncertainty around U.S. tariff policy as Section 301 emerges as a key tool to sustain leverage and potentially fill the gap. The panel examines the durability of existing trade frameworks and agreements, along with growing tensions with partners in Europe and Asia, where ongoing and potential Section 301 inves...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders break down the shifting landscape of U.S. tariff policy and the new Section 301 investigations announced by the Trump Administration. The panel explores whether the administration’s flurry of new Section 301 investigations targeting excess capacity across 16 countries and expanding forced labor concerns represents a strategic “wink w...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange podcast and video, our trade insiders discuss the uncertainty surrounding tariff policy following the IEEPA ruling, the expiration of Section 122 tariffs this summer, and how Section 301 might take its place. They also examine the durability of current Framework and Agreements on Reciprocal Trade, the potential shift toward more tailored tariff solution...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade-insiders spoke about the fallout from the Supreme Court's ruling that the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) does not allow the President to impose tariffs; whether there’s a “large and serious” balance of payments deficit problem in the U.S. that justifies new tariffs under Section 122 (versus a current account/trade deficit...

Please join WITA for an Emergency Webinar to discuss the ruling by the United States Supreme Court that “IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.”  Our trade-insiders will break down the ruling and the implications for U.S. trade policy.  Featured Speakers: Kathleen Claussen,  Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center; former Associate General Counsel, Office of the U.S....

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our former trade negotiators examine the use of tariffs as leverage in trade negotiations, and the significance of deals with Indonesia, Taiwan, Guatemala, El Salvador, and North Macedonia - neglected no more! They also discussed how Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) still helps shape trade policy; the role of WTO disciplines in structuring agreements; a...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our former trade negotiators unpack the emerging U.S.-Bangladesh trade agreement. Did Bangladesh secure more favorable terms than India’s interim deal with the U.S.? What are the implications for other deals in Southeast Asia, Latin America and elsewhere? They also examine the administration’s broader trade strategy. Particularly, what it hopes to achi...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our former trade negotiators unpack the trade deal everyone has been waiting for - a U.S.-India bilateral trade deal, announced by President Trump on social media, following right on the heels of the EU's trade deal with India.  How does this trade agreement stack up with the framework agreements on reciprocal trade reached with other countries; wh...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, former negotiators talk about the great diversification and global tariff de-escalation, the "new" India - EU trade agreement and potential for a U.S.-India trade deal, the U.S. turning up the screws on its trading partners, the UK and Canadian "business" deals with China, renewed U.S. tensions with Korea and Canada, weaponized bila...

In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, former negotiators talk us off the ledge as the US and its European allies reach an agreement in Davos to turn down the temperature in the battle of the North Atlantic. They also talk about the use of tariffs and trade as economic statecraft, the implications of trade deals between the US and Taiwan, Canada and China, and glimpse a possible path forwar...