Explore every episode of the podcast The Trade Guys

Bill and Scott welcome Angela Ellard, Senior Adviser at CSIS and previous Deputy Director-General of the WTO, to discuss the 2026 WTO Public Forum and the future of multilateral trade.

On this episode, Bill and Scott talk with Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS, to get his perspective on the upcoming summit between the U.S. and China. See Scott Kennedy's latest commentary on the subject "The U.S.-China Summit: Too Big and Too Small to Fail" here: The U.S.-China Summit: Too Big and Too Small to Fail.

Bill and Scott follow up on President Trump's executive orders on beef, take a look at the Russia Sanctions Bill stalled in Congress, and discuss the push for closer ties between Canada and Europe plus what Italian pasta can tell us about the administration's approach to trade enforcement.

Bill and Scott unpack President Trump's efforts to bring down beef prices by increasing imports and what that means for American ranchers, discuss key takeaways from this week's G20 finance meetings, and check back in on U.S.-Canada trade talks and Canada's retaliatory tariffs.

Bill and Scott welcome Dennis Darby, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), to discuss last week's U.S.-Canada trade meltdown, where negotiations stand now, and what comes next.

On this episode, the Trade Guys discuss the latest developments in U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, a recent court ruling on the Trump administration's 2025 move to end the de minimis exemption, and a new White House report on tariff evasion and transshipment.

Bill and Scott welcome Zainab Usman, senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, to discuss critical minerals and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Bill and Scott break down the trade provisions of the Senate Farm Bill, the U.S.-Japan intervention in currency markets, and the Trump administration's latest enforcement actions targeting goods linked to forced labor.

Bill and Scott discuss the Trump administration's proposed new tariffs on Canada under Section 338, the implementation of Section 301 tariffs on more than 80 countries, and the implications of the tariff provisions contained in the Russia Sanctions Bill currently making its way through Congress.

Bill and Scott welcome Dan Anthony, president of Trade Partnership Worldwide, to discuss recent tariffs and their impact on small businesses.

Bill and Scott unpack the latest developments around the Trump administration's Section 301 tariffs and take a look at the state of digital services taxes in Europe following President Trump's recent threat to impose 100% tariffs on countries that move forward with those taxes.

Bill and Scott welcome Diego Marroquín Bitar, fellow with the CSIS Americas Program, following the July 1, 2026, USMCA review deadline to discuss the U.S. decision not to renew and the future of the USMCA.

Bill and Scott take a look at recent Chinese export restrictions on U.S. companies, examine the USTR's visits to India and Uzbekistan, and dig into a newly announced U.S. probe of German pharmaceutical pricing.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott dig into the latest on the USMCA review, break down the outcomes from the G7 Summit, and take a look at the European Parliament's approval of the EU-U.S. trade deal.

On this episode, the Trade Guys unpack the latest White House executive order on customs enforcement. They also give an update on the Trump administration's use of Section 232 and Section 301 as tools in its broader tariff strategy.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the impacts of Chinese retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural and other trade, the Trump administration's continued efforts to implement Section 301 tariffs, and the ongoing tariff refund litigation.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott welcome Nasim Fussell, Vice President of Trade and International at Business Roundtable, to give an update on progress in USMCA renewal talks and what the business community is watching in North American trade.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott welcome Chad Bown (Reginald Jones Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics) and Soumaya Keynes (Economics Columnist, Financial Times) to discuss the issues raised in their new book, How to Win a Trade War.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott host Jennifer Safavian, President & CEO of Autos Drive America, to discuss North American auto supply chains and the key issues at stake for automakers in USMCA review.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott unpack a novel lawsuit against Cisco under the Alien Tort Statute of 1789. They also discuss President Trump's threat of 25% tariff of EU cars and trucks and King Charles' successful effort to reverse U.S. tariffs on British Scotch whiskey. They conclude with a look at what to expect from the Trump-Xi summit this week.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the state of U.S.-Canada trade relations in the context of USMCA review, new Chinese regulations aimed at preventing foreign companies from shifting their supply chains out of the country, and EU and U.S. approaches to sanctioning Russia.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott give an update on the launch of the tariff refund process. They also discuss the U.S. "Trade Over Aid" initiative and break down U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's congressional testimony on the administration's trade agenda.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott unpack the latest on the economic impacts of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. They also look at the Trump administration's efforts to implement tariffs under Sections 122 and 301. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott talk with Kate Koren, Deputy Director of the Economics Program at CSIS. She discusses the latest efforts in Congress to align U.S. export controls with partners, including the MATCH Act bill. They also cover new Section 232 tariffs on pharmaceuticals and metals and the White House's budget request for Fiscal Year 2027. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott reflect on the anniversary of Liberation Day and how President Trump has reshaped the global economic landscape. They also react to the failure to renew the global moratorium on e-commerce taxation at the 14th WTO Ministerial and new Chinese investigations into U.S. trade practices.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill opens with an update on the ongoing 14th WTO Ministerial Conference and the legislative implementation of the EU-U.S. trade deal. Bill and Scott then dive into the completed EU-Australia trade deal, the Trump administration's temporary pause on oil sanctions on Russia and Iran, new steel tariffs in the UK, and the new Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the U.S. and Ecuador. 

Bill and Scott discuss the SCOTUS ruling on the IEEPA tariffs one month after its decision, unpack the challenges and sanctions in the U.S.-Cuba relationship, and give an update on USMCA.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott welcome Victor Cha, who is president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea chair at CSIS, as well as a Distinguished Professor at Georgetown University. Victor discusses a series of cases from his new book, China's Weaponization of Trade, which examines how and in what ways the United States and China have deployed economic coercion, focusing on China’s extensive use of this tactic over the past three decades

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott dive into the impacts of the Iran Conflict on world trade, especially for energy markets. Bill then gives an update on the Court of International Trade's efforts to implement the Supreme Court's IEEPA decision. They conclude by unpacking an escalating trade war between Ecuador and Colombia. 

The Trade Guys make sense of the initial fallout from the SCOTUS decision, including refunds, potential tariff stacking, and impacts on industries and the international community. They also discuss potential changes in the EU-China relationship following German chancellor Merz's visit to Beijing.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the current status of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and also unpack a Senate bill proposing to revise the "First Sale" rule governing how tariffs are collected. They close with a look at the recent trade deal between the United States and Taiwan.

On this emergency episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott break down the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision striking down President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for broad tariffs and discuss the implications of the decision for global trade.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott unpack why House members voted to override President Trump's tariffs on Canada and what will come next. They also look at recent Indian dealmaking with the U.S. and EU, rising trade tensions between the EU and China, and the return of shipping commerce to the Suez Canal route. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott react to the recently announced U.S. critical minerals stockpile and a broader effort to work with allies on price floors. They also discuss plummeting oil shipments to Cuba under Trump administration pressure, as well as continued efforts in the EU to sanction and decouple from Russia.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott react to President Trump's threat to impose 100 percent tariffs on Canada. They also discuss their takeaways from the aftermath of the World Economic Forum in Davos and several proposals to reform the World Trade Organization.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss President Trump's tariff threats surrounding Greenland and the outcomes of the World Economic Forum in Davos. They also look at a series of new trade agreements, including a deal between China and Canada, and close by unpacking Trump's deals on pharmaceutical pricing. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the carveout for U.S. multinationals from key parts of the OECD’s 15% global minimum tax framework. They also unpack the unconventional announced semiconductor 232 tariffs and escalating diplomatic and economic tension between China and Japan.

The Trade Guys kick off 2026 with a special crossover episode featuring the Simply Trade podcast’s Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles. Together, the group explores what’s ahead for 2026, focusing on major global trade battlefronts including the Supreme Court, WTO, and USMCA.

On this week’s episode, the Trade Guys discuss President Trump’s decision to sell Nvidia H200 chips to China, the status of the U.S.-Indonesia trade deal, and North Pole tariffs ahead of the holidays.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss President Trump’s $12 billion aid package to U.S. farmers, China’s trade surplus hitting over $1 trillion despite U.S. tariffs, and USTR’s hearings with stakeholders on extending the USMCA.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott  unpack a proposal from the Trump administration to give a $2,000 tariff dividend to all low- and middle-income Americans. They also examine a new deal between the U.S. and UK on pharmaceuticals. Finally, we finish with a debate on whether bullying or persuasion is more effective in trade negotiations.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss new U.S. trade deals and framework agreements and the significance of "poison pill" clauses inserted into several of the deals. Scott also unpacks the impacts of trade on Thanksgiving foods. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the upcoming 2026 review of the USMCA and the state of trade in North America. They also examine recent cooperation between the United States and China on counternarcotics and port fees and ponder whether Congress may take action on tariffs now that the shutdown is over. Plus, we welcome Alex Kisling as our new moderator. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Phil offer their takeaways from this week's Supreme Court oral arguments on the IEEPA tariffs. They also give an update on the progress of the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and discuss Microsoft's receipt of a license to ship thousands of advanced Nvidia AI chips to the UAE.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, we talk through the outcomes from President Trump's trip to Asia, including negotiations with China, the ROK, and ASEAN.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, we discuss a vote on rules aimed at lowering carbon emissions from shipping which was called off under U.S. pressure. We also cover expanded rare earth export controls coming out of China and new CSIS findings on the severe impacts of retaliation on U.S. farmers.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, we join forces with Betsy Olim of the Export Stories Podcast to share stories from decades' worth of experience in trade. 

This week, the Trade Guys discuss the future of globalization, the rules-based order, and what may come next in front of a live audience.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, we look at a slew of recent tariff announcements, including on furniture, pharmaceuticals, and foreign movies. We also cover China's relinquishing of “special and differential” WTO treatment and the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

On this episode of the Trade Guys, we dig into why tariffs haven't had as significant impact on the economy as expected. We also look at the impacts of trade retaliation on farmers and recent progress in trade talks between the United States and United Kingdom. Trade continues to be the hottest policy topic in Washington, which is why we’re bringing back our ⁠Crash Course: Trade Policy with the Trade Guys⁠ this fall. If you missed our spring course, now is the perfect time to register. The course runs from October 8-9 at CSIS Headquarters or via Zoom. Registration is open until October 3.