The Trade Guys
Trade experts Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch break down the buzz around trade, how it affects policy, and how it impacts your day-to-day. The Trade Guys is a weekly podcast from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C.
Making Cents of the Global Economy with Dawson Law
On this episode of The Trade Guys, Bill and Scott sit down with Dawson Law, Founder of Conseil Global Advisors and former Representative to the United Kingdom for the U.S. Treasury Department, to discuss the role of the dollar and the use of currencies in today's global economy.
U.S.-Russia Diesel Deal, Europe-China Hybrid Vehicle Agreement, and Tariff Refunds
Bill and Scott discuss the Trump administration’s new diesel deal with Russia, examine a new agreement between Europe and China to limit Chinese hybrid vehicle exports, and unpack the latest court ruling on refunds for the overturned emergency tariffs.
Europe’s Trade Defense Push, Diesel Pressure, and South Korea’s U.S. Investment
Bill and Scott discuss France and Germany’s push to strengthen Europe’s trade defenses against China, examine the Trump administration’s pressure on allies over emergency diesel supplies, and unpack the status of major foreign investment pledges, including South Korea’s plans to invest in the United States.
Trump-Xi Summit, USTR's G20 trade ministers meeting, and EU-China Trade Updates
Bill and Scott break down what came out of the Trump-Xi Summit, take a look at the U.S. Trade Representative's gathering of G20 trade ministers in Milwaukee, and unpack why the EU is pressing China to limit exports of hybrid vehicles.
Angela Ellard on the 2026 WTO Public Forum
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.
The Trump-Xi Summit and All Things China with Scott Kennedy
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.
Beef, Russia Sanctions Bill, Canada-Europe Relations, and Italian Pasta
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.
The Beef Imports, G20 Finance Meetings, and U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions
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.
The U.S.-Canada Trade Meltdown with Dennis Darby
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.
U.S.-Canada Trade, De Minimis Exemption, and Tariff Evasion and Transshipment
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.
Zainab Usman on Critical Minerals and AGOA
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).
Senate Farm Bill, Currency Markets, and Forced Labor
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.
Tariffs, Tariffs, Tariffs: Sections 338 & 301 and the Russia Sanctions Bill
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.
Dan Anthony on Tariffs and Small Businesses
Bill and Scott welcome Dan Anthony, president of Trade Partnership Worldwide, to discuss recent tariffs and their impact on small businesses.
Section 301 Tariffs and Digital Services Taxes in Europe
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.
USMCA Review Deadline with CSIS's Diego Marroquín Bitar
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.
Chinese Export Restrictions, USTR in India and Uzbekistan, and German Pharmaceutical Pricing
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.
USMCA Review, G7 Summit, and the EU-U.S. Trade Deal
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.
Customs Enforcement and Section 232 and 301 Tariffs
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.
China's Retaliatory Tariffs, Section 301 Authorities, and Tariff Refund Litigation
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.
Business Roundtable's Nasim Fussell Talks USMCA
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.
How to Win a Trade War with Chad Bown and Soumaya Keynes
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.
USMCA Review and Autos with Jennifer Safavian
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.
Alien Tort Statute, EU Auto Tariff Threats, Royal Whiskey Tariff Relaxation, and Trump-Xi Summit Preview
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.
U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions, New PRC Extraterritorial Rules, and Russia Sanctions Approaches
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.
Tariff Refund Process, Trade Over Aid, and USTR Greer Testifies
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.
Hormuz Blockade Impacts and Trump's New Tariff Playbook
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.
Talking Export Control Alignment, New 232s, and Trump's Budget Request with Kate Koren
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.
One Year After Liberation Day, Plus the E-Commerce Moratorium and New Chinese Investigations
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.
EU-Australia Trade Deal, Sanctions Relief for Russia and Iran, UK Steel Tariffs, and US-Ecuador Agreement
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.
SCOTUS Decision Check-in, U.S. Cuba Relations, and USMCA Updates
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.
Victor Cha on China's Weaponization of Trade
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
Economic Impacts of Iran Conflict, Tariff Refund Update, and Colombia-Ecuador Trade War
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.
SCOTUS Decision Fallout & the EU-China Relationship
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.
Steel & Aluminum Tariffs, "First Sale", and U.S.-Taiwan Deal
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.
Emergency Trade Guys: Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs
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.
House Tariff Override, India Deals, EU-China Tension, and the Return of the Suez
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.
Critical Minerals Moves, Cuba in the Crosshairs, and EU-Russia Sanctions Update
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.
Canada Tariff Threats, Davos Roundup, and WTO Reform Proposals
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.
The Greenland Trade War That Almost Was, China-Canada Détente, and Pharma Deals
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.
