WITA's Friday Exchange

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Former Trade Negotiators Discuss This Week’s Tariff and Trade Developments

  1. FEB 6

    Ep. 29: Waiting on a Trade Deal: The Long and Winding Road to a Trade Deal with India

    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 Affairs Arun 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

    43 min

  2. JAN 30

    Ep. 28: Turning up the Screws, Sour Grape Tariffs, Poison Pills, and the Great Diversification

    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 Association Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Mark 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 Affairs Daniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East Chris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Joe Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy & Global Life Sciences, Crowell Global Advisors; former Deputy Assistant USTR for Asia

    47 min

  3. JAN 23

    Ep. 27: Trade as Economic Statecraft, Greenland, Trade Bazookas, Davos Deals, and the Silicon Shield

    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 Association Kate 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 Representative Daniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East Sara 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 Representative 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 Representative

    49 min

  4. JAN 16

    Ep. 26: Bizarro World Trade

    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 Association Kellie Meiman, Senior Counselor, McLarty Associates; former Director of Brazil and the Southern Cone at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Daniel 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 Representative Chris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Department of Commerce Moderator: Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

    45 min

  5. JAN 8

    Ep. 25: Gun Boat Diplomacy, Tariffs, and Geoeconomics

    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 Association Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 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 Representative Daniel 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 Representative Chris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Department of Commerce Moderator: 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

    49 min

  6. 12/31/2025

    Ep. 24: Modernizing the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement USMCA with the Coalition for North American Trade

    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.

    27 min

  7. 12/19/2025

    Ep. 23: Digital Spats, Transactional Isolationism, and the WTO Phoenix

    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

    49 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    Ep. 22: No Straight Lines - National Security, Europe, Asia, China & Chips

    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 Representative 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 Representative Daniel 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 Representative Moderator: 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

    46 min
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Former Trade Negotiators Discuss This Week’s Tariff and Trade Developments

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  • Creator
    WITA DC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © WITA DC
  • Show Website
    WITA's Friday Exchange