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

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 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

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 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

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 Representative

Mark 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 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

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 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 Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia/WTO and Multilateral, 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

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 Representative

Marty Lederman, Professor from Practice, Georgetown Law; former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice

Moderator: 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 Association

Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

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

Dawn 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 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

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 Association

Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, 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

Dawn 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

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