Ep. 35 – WITA’s Friday Exchange: War, Global Trade Pressures, China, Europe, Mexico, Japan and the Durability of Tariffs
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Former Trade Negotiators Discuss This Week’s Tariff and Trade Developments.
No one understands the dynamics with key U.S. trading partners better than the people who led these kinds of difficult trade negotiations for the United States. Panelists will update our viewers on the trade policy announcements, what remains undone; and what are expected next steps in these trade negotiations.
In the latest episode of the Friday Exchange, our trade insiders break down the evolving uncertainty around U.S. tariff policy as Section 301 emerges as a key tool to sustain leverage and potentially fill the gap. The panel examines the durability of existing trade frameworks and agreements, along with growing tensions with partners in Europe and Asia, where ongoing and potential Section 301 investigations could complicate negotiations and ratification efforts. The discussion also turns to the broader geopolitical context shaping trade, including the postponed U.S. China Summit, the increasing use of economic leverage, China’s control of critical mineral supply chains, and global energy vulnerabilities affecting the U.S. and its allies. Panelists also look ahead to the USMCA review, and potential divergence in outcomes with Canada and Mexico.
Featured Speakers:
Wendy Cutler
Senior Vice President
Asia Society Policy Institute
Wendy Cutler is Senior Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), based in Washington, D.C. In this role, she focuses on leading initiatives that address challenges related to trade, investment, economic security, and innovation, as well as women’s empowerment in Asia.
Cutler joined ASPI following an illustrious career of nearly three decades as a diplomat and negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where she also served as Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. During her time at USTR, she worked on a range of bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations and initiatives, including the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, U.S.-China negotiations, and the WTO Financial Services negotiations.
Cutler has published a series of ASPI papers on the Asian trade landscape and serves as a regular media commentator on trade and investment developments in Asia and the world.
Everett Eissenstat
Executive Vice President; former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director, National Economic Council in the first Trump Administration; and the former Assistant USTR for the Americas, among other roles
Inter-American Development Bank
Everett Eissenstat, a U.S. citizen, was appointed Executive Vice President starting June 1, 2026. In this role, he is the Bank’s chief operating officer, with responsibility for the operation of the institution and its senior management. He oversees the quality control and risk management of all IDB operations, advises the President on key corporate planning issues, and is responsible for the implementation of business and strategy plans.
Eissenstat is an internationally recognized government affairs executive with more than 30 years of experience, including influential leadership roles in global trade, energy, and international economic policy across both the public and private sectors. He has held senior positions at the highest levels of the United States government, including serving as Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, where he advised on and coordinated U.S. international economic policy and represented the President in key global fora, such as the G7, G20, and APEC.
Eissenstat has also played a central role in shaping U.S. trade policy over many years. He served twice as Chief International Trade Counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and was also an Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Americas, leading efforts on major trade legislation and advising senior policymakers on complex international economic matters.
His experience also includes senior roles in the private sector, notably as Partner at Squire Patton Boggs and Senior Vice President for Global Public Policy at General Motors. He holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and a master’s in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
Chris Padilla
Senior Advisor
Brunswick Group
Christopher Padilla is a Senior Advisor based in Brunswick’s Washington, DC office. He brings senior experience from decades spent in government policy and corporate roles, and practical perspective from his time as a supply chain practitioner. He has championed advocacy efforts on trade, tariffs, and tax policy at the highest levels of government worldwide.
Previously, Padilla led global government and regulatory affairs for IBM Corporation for 15 years. He oversaw a team of advocacy professionals in 36 countries, and trade and sanctions compliance for IBM’s global operations.
Before IBM, Padilla held senior roles in the Commerce Department. The President twice appointed him to Senate-confirmed positions, as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, and as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. He also held roles as an Assistant United States Trade Representative, a Senior Advisor at the Department of State, and as a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
Earlier, he spent 15 years in marketing, business development, and international trade relations roles at AT&T and Eastman Kodak Company. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in international economics from Johns Hopkins University.
Michael Smart
Managing Director
Rock Creek Global Advisors
Michael J. Smart is a Managing Director at Rock Creek Global Advisors, where he focuses on international trade and investment policy, including market access and regulatory matters. He also advises multinational companies on sanctions, supply chain policy, and trade-related climate measures.
Mr. Smart previously served as Trade Counsel on the Democratic staff of the US Senate Committee on Finance. In that role, he advised Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and members of the committee on various trade matters, including World Trade Organization negotiations and dispute settlement, free trade agreements, agricultural trade, and the trade aspects of legislation to address climate change.
Before joining the Finance Committee, Mr. Smart was Director for International Trade and Investment on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House. Mr. Smart focused on the Doha Development Agenda, trade in financial services, free trade agreements, and bilateral investment treaties. He also served as the lead White House staff for cabinet-level dialogues with Brazil and India.
Mr. Smart was previously an associate at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, where his practice focused on international trade and investment policy and dispute resolution. He represented companies and governments in WTO, investment treaty, and NAFTA disputes. Earlier in his career, Mr. Smart was Legislative Director for former Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND).
Mr. Smart has appeared on CNN International, BBC News, Bloomberg News, and Channel News Asia and has been quoted in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Politico, and Financial Times.
Mr. Smart is a member of the Executive Circle of the Institute of International Economic Affairs at The George Washington University and a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington International Trade Association. Mr. Smart received his BA in International Affairs from The George Washington University (Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude) and his JD from Georgetown University Law Center (cum laude).
