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

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 Association

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

Chris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. 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

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 State

Brian Pomper, Partner, Akin; former Chief International Trade Counsel, U.S. Senate Finance Committee

Stephen Vaughn, Partner, King & Spalding; former General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Moderator: 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 Association

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

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

Sharon 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, USTR

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