Ep. 46 – Tariff  & Trade Deja Vu: The New Tariff Regime that’s Coming Seems A Lot Like the Old One

06/05/2026

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WITA

Watch or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Former Trade Negotiators Discuss This Week’s Tariff 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.

On this week’s episode of WITA’s Friday Exchange, our trade insiders debate the the administration’s Section 301 announcements on forced labor and the coming announcements on over capacity; and whether the Section 301 investigations and expected tariffs are a legitimate and durable trade policy tool or simply a pretext to recreate the IEEPA tariffs and extract leverage from trading partners. They also discussed  the future of USMCA, and negotiations with Canada and Mexico to extend the agreement. And lurking behind everything: China.

Featured Speakers:
 
Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade Association
 
Ed Gresser, Vice President & Director for Trade & Global Markets, Progressive Policy Institute; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade Policy and Economics – author of the Trade Fact of the Week
 
Chris Padilla, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
 
Kelly Ann Shaw, Partner, Akin; former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs & Deputy Director, National Economic Council
 
Moderator: Michael Smart, Managing Director, Rock Creek Global Advisors; former Director for International Trade and Investment, National Security Council, The White House; former Trade Counsel, Democratic Staff, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance