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Former Trade Negotiators Discuss This Week’s Tariff and Trade Developments
30 Episodes
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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 achieve with China, and whether the U.S.-China trade truce could last well into the future. Will new aircraft and energy purchases, critical minerals commitments, or new inbound Chinese investment shape the next phase of bilateral trade? And they discuss if it means anything that Congress started to reassert its Constitutional prerogatives.Featured Speakers:Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Advisor at the Asia Group and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum; former Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia and before that WTO and Multilateral AffairsChris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International TradeModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy & Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant USTR for Asia
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; what does the US-India deal mean for Russian and Iranian oil imports; how does the agreement deal with the thorny issues of Indian technical barriers to trade and standards; what about the WTO e-commerce moratorium?Daniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle EastDawn Shackleford, President at Looking Glass Trade, LLC; former Executive Director for Trade Agreements Policy & Negotiations, Department of Commerce; former Assistant USTR for WTO & Multilateral AffairsArun Venkataraman, Partner, Covington & Burling; former Assistant Secretary of Commerce & Director General of the US & Foreign Commercial Service; and former Director for India and associate general council at USTR
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 bilateral trade deals, and more.Featured Speakers:Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Advisor at the Asia Group and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum; former Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia and before that WTO and Multilateral AffairsDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle EastChris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International TradeJoe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy & Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant USTR for Asia
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 forward on WTO reform.Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership AssociationKate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director, McLarty Associates; former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Trade, National Economic Council; former Director for European Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle EastSara Schuman, Managing Director and International Trade Practice Lead, Beacon Global Strategies; former Senior Trade Representative & Minister Counselor for Trade Affairs, U.S. Embassy Beijing, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group; Senior Advisor, U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange podcast, former trade negotiators look at the new trade deal between Taiwan and the United States, potential tariffs on countries that do business with Iran, and U.S. threats of a Greenland takeover. Our experts also discuss critical minerals, chips, USMCA, Venezuela, China and more.Featured Speakers:Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership AssociationKellie Meiman, Senior Counselor, McLarty Associates; former Director of Brazil and the Southern Cone at the Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeChris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Department of CommerceModerator: Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
In the first episode of the New Year, former trade negotiators look at the nexus of national security, geopolitics and trade. They discuss the President's National Security Strategy; Venezuela and the "Donroe Doctrine"; gun boat diplomacy and tariffs; and investment considerations for big oil. Our experts also discuss USMCA, WTO Reform, what we might see if IEEPA gets overturned (did someone mention Section 338?), and who has the leverage in trade with China.Featured Speakers: Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group; Senior Advisor, U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeChris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Department of CommerceModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
On December 4, 2025 WITA hosted the CoChairs of the Coalition for North American Trade for a fireside chat to discuss the review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). The three leaders discussed how the agreement makes all three countries more competitive in facing global challenges.Discussion features:Kevin Brady, Senior Consultant at Akin; former Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. During his time as Chairman, he played a crucial role in passage of the USMCA in 2019.Kenneth Smith Ramos, Partner at Agon in Mexico City, Mexico’s former Chief Negotiator for the modernization of NAFTA; former Head of the Trade and the NAFTA Office at the Mexican Ministry of the Economy in Washington, DC.Steve Verheul, Principal at GT & Co, Toronto, Canada’s former Chief Trade Negotiator for the USMCA; former Assistant Deputy Minister of the Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch at Global Affairs Canada; and former Chief Trade Negotiator between Canada & the European Union in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.Moderator, Nasim Fussel, Vice President of Trade & International at the Business Roundtable; former Chief International Trade Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee; former Trade Counsel for the Ways and Means Committee; Chair of WITA’s Board of Directors.
On this week's episode of WITA’s Friday Exchange, trade experts dove into US digital spats with the UK, EU, and Korea, the recently released National Security Strategy and its “transactional isolationism,” and the recent US submission on WTO reform.Mark Linscott, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group; Senior Advisor, U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativePenny Naas, Senior Vice President, Innovation and Competitiveness, German Marshall Fund of the United StatesChris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Department of CommerceModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
This week on WITA’s Friday Exchange, former trade negotiators share their thoughts on the recent release of the National Security Strategy and its effect on evolving US economic security policy. Our trade experts also analyzed ongoing trade negotiations with India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, and news on trade and tech in China, and the recent hearings on the USMCA agreement.Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership Association Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group; Senior Advisor, U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
This week on WITA’s Friday Exchange, former trade negotiators discussed the recent US-UK pharmaceuticals deal, shifting US-China trade dynamics in Southeast Asia, as well as a review of tariff policy this year and what’s to come next year. Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership Association Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group; Senior Advisor, U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
On this week’s edition of WITA’s Friday Exchange, trade experts covered the recent U.S. trade deal with Switzerland, the possibility of an EU-CPTPP partnership, and new tariff exemptions, all in the context of mounting public pressure on inflation and evolving views on a new global trade framework.Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia/WTO and Multilateral, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
This week on WITA’s Friday Exchange, former trade negotiators helped make sense of recently released trade deals and frameworks with Latin America, Korea, and Vietnam; the potential for tariff relief on coffee and bananas; and assess the implications for international trade policy, trade deficits, investment, and inflation.Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia/WTO and Multilateral, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeChris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Department of CommerceModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
On this week’s episode of WITA’s Friday Exchange, trade law and legal experts dove into the cutting issues raised at this week’s IEEPA hearing. Are tariffs the appropriate tool to deal with an economic emergency? If not tariffs, what powers does IEEPA give the president? And what do butter knives and steak knives have to do with this case? Tune into this week’s episode to find out.Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership Association Kathleen Claussen, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center; former Associate General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMarty Lederman, Professor from Practice, Georgetown Law; former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of JusticeModerator: Michael Smart, Managing Director, Rock Creek Global Advisors; former Director for International Trade and Investment, National Security Council; former Trade Counsel, Democratic Staff, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
This week on WITA’s Friday Exchange, trade experts unpack the trade impacts of the Trump–Xi meeting; break down what we know about trade talks with Japan and Korea; deals with Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, and other bilateral developments from Trump’s Asia tour.Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Membership AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeSara Schuman, Managing Director and International Trade Practice Lead, Beacon Global Strategies; former Senior Trade Representative & Minister Counselor for Trade Affairs, U.S. Embassy Beijing, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDawn Shackleford, President, Looking Glass Trade LLC; former Executive Director for Trade Agreements Policy & Negotiations, Department of Commerce; former AUSTR for Southeast Asia, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
This week on WITA’s Friday Exchange, trade experts discuss President Trump's pique over anti-tariff ads and President Reagan's legacy, the new U.S.–Australia agreement on critical minerals and the prospect for trade deals between the US and its Asian trading partners, including an expected meeting between President Trump and President Xi.Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – the International Trade Membership AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDawn Shackleford, President at Looking Glass Trade, LLC; former Executive Director for Trade Agreements Policy & Negotiations, Department of Commerce; former Assistant USTR for WTO & Multilateral AffairsModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
On this week's WITA's Friday Exchange we dove into the tit-for-tat escalation in the trade tensions between the U.S and China that is dragging the whole world into the fight over foundational elements of the global economy. Our experts also discussed the potential for a Trump-Xi meeting, the APEC Summit, and the prospects for de-escalation.Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – the International Trade Membership AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeChris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of CommerceModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
This week's episode of WITA's Friday Exchange was recorded during the 2025 WITA Virtual Intensive Trade Seminar. Speakers discussed the evolution of U.S. trade policy making in the 21st Century, dissected current trade policy developments, and analyzed the push and pull between three branches of government in the U.S: Congress, the Executive, and the Courts.Featured Speakers:Peter Harrell, Non-Resident Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace ; former Senior Director for International Economics and Competitiveness, National Security Council; Deputy Assistant Secretary, Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions, U.S. Department of StateBrian Pomper, Partner, Akin; former Chief International Trade Counsel, U.S. Senate Finance CommitteeStephen Vaughn, Partner, King & Spalding; former General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeModerator: Nicole Bivens Collinson, Managing Principal, Operating Committee, International Trade & Government Relations Practice Leader, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
This week on WITA’s Friday Exchange, former trade negotiators turn their focus towards the world's most populous country, India, where trade frictions have defined the relationship for generations. Guests discuss the geopolitical complexities of trade with India, tariff and non-tariff barriers, and key issues such as agriculture and digital trade.Featured Guests: Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, Washington International Trade AssociationDawn Shackleford, President at Looking Glass Trade, LLC; former Executive Director for Trade Agreements Policy & Negotiations, Department of Commerce; former Assistant USTR for WTO & Multilateral AffairsMark Linscott, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia/WTO and Multilateral, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeSharon Bomer Lauritsen, Agricultural Trade Consultant, AgTrade Strategies; former Assistant USTR in Agricultural Affairs; former Executive Vice President of Food & Agriculture, Biotechnology Innovation Organization; former Deputy of Agricultural Affairs, USTRModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
This week on WITA's Friday Exchange, former trade negotiators discussed a spate of new tariffs announced this week; the challenges facing negotiations for those who have yet to come to terms with the White House; and where things stand for countries like India, Korea, Vietnam, Switzerland and more!Featured Speakers:Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeMark Linscott, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia/WTO and Multilateral, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeModerator: Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy and Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia and Pacific, Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeSee more at wita.org
For this week’s Friday Exchange, we’re pulling one from the archives that many of you may have missed. On February 11, 2025, Sean Spicer, the former Press Secretary and Communications Director for President Donald Trump and onetime Spokesman for USTR spoke to the WITA membership about navigating trade politics in 2025. Sean’s message to WITA then still resonates today.Featured Speakers:Sean Spicer, Host of the Sean Spicer Show (YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts); former Press Secretary and Communications Director for President Donald J. Trump; former Communications Director of the Republican National Committee; former Spokesman, Office of the United States Trade RepresentativeModerator: Nicole Bivens Collinson, Managing Principal, Operating Committee, International Trade & Government Relations Practice Leader, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
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