The Trade Guys - podcast cover

The Trade Guys

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studieswww.csis.org
Trade experts Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch break down the buzz around trade, how it affects policy, and how it impacts your day-to-day. The Trade Guys is hosted every week by H. Andrew Schwartz at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C. Email your questions to TradeGuys@csis.org.

Episodes

Emergency Trade Guys: Tariff Whiplash and Chinese Decoupling

On another emergency episode of the Trade Guys, Bill, Scott, Andrew, and Phil react to President Trump's 90-day pause of his planned reciprocal tariffs, recent swings in stock and bond markets, and the ramifications of an escalating trade war with China.

Apr 10, 202538 min

Liberation Day Fallout and What Comes Next

On this bonus episode of the Trade Guys, we unpack the latest news about the impacts of the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs and how markets, trading partners, and consumers will respond.

Apr 08, 202530 min

Techno-Nationalism with Alex Capri

This week, Bill and Scott talk to author and professor Alex Capri about his new book Techno-Nationalism: How It's Reshaping Trade, Geopolitics and Society.

Apr 08, 202535 min

Auto Tariffs and U.S.-India Trade Relations

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we unpack the recent tariffs on cars. We also do a deep dive on trade relations with India. Want to build your knowledge of American trade policy and politics by learning from top experts? Join the Trade Guys for a hybrid course on May 8-9. Learn more and sign up here: Crash Course: Trade Policy with the Trade Guys

Mar 31, 202527 min

For Every Move, A Countermove: An EU Trade War and the Impacts of Tariffs on the U.S.

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we talk through the latest developments around the Trump administration's application of tariffs on the European Union. We also look at the impacts of the tariffs on the U.S., with a particular focus on the auto industry. Want to build your knowledge of American trade policy and politics by learning from top experts? Join the Trade Guys for a 1.5-day hybrid course on May 8-9. Learn more and sign up here: Crash Course: Trade Policy with the Trade Guys

Mar 24, 202526 min

Chinese Shipbuilding and a Trump Tariff Roundup

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we discuss USTR's Section 301 investigation of China's shipbuilding sector. We also go through several recent executive orders and directives related to tariffs and investment.

Mar 04, 202521 min

The Tariff Man Strikes Again

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we will talk about the announced but ultimately delayed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, along with the tariffs on China.

Feb 10, 202529 min

The Colombia Kerfuffle, Trade Remedies, and EU Deregulation

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we discuss the trade implications of President Trump's dispute with the president of Colombia. We also look at the potential for increased focus on trade remedies in the U.S. and a European shift towards deregulation.

Feb 03, 202526 min

Trump's First Days and a U.S. FDI Boom

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we run through the early trade actions of the new administration and what may come next. We also unpack the record-high U.S. share of global foreign direct investment (FDI).

Jan 28, 202528 min

A Biden Trade Retrospective, Indonesia Joins BRICS, and AI Export Controls

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we step back and assess the Biden administration's record on trade policy, including a preview of what may change under Trump. We also discuss Indonesia's ascension to full membership in BRICS and the latest export controls on AI GPUs.

Jan 20, 202534 min

China's Shots Across the Bow, Nippon Steel Woes, and the H1-B Debate

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we look at recent Chinese export controls on critical minerals and entity listings of U.S. companies. We also weigh in on President Biden's blocking of the Nippon Steel acquisition of U.S. Steel and the recent controversy surrounding H1-B visas.

Jan 14, 202532 min

The Fate of the WTO, Useful Data on China Sanctions, and Space Export Controls

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we discuss what the incoming U.S. administration will mean for the future of the World Trade Organization. We also dive into a new study on “The Rise of US Economic Sanctions on China” from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, as well as the relaxation of export controls on space-related technologies by BIS.

Dec 16, 202432 min

More Nominees, New Export Controls, and the Future of USMCA

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we look at what we can learn from the full slate of economic cabinet nominees for the incoming administration. We also dive into new export controls from BIS, China's response to the controls, and how Trump's threats of tariffs on Canada and Mexico will play out.

Dec 09, 202427 min

Trump's Cabinet, Vietnam in the Crosshairs, and Chinese Retaliation

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we comment on the current and potential nominees for trade-relevant cabinet positions. We then dig into why Vietnam will be a target for trade actions under the incoming administration and how China might respond to anticipated tariff hikes.

Nov 25, 202423 min

The Return of Tariff Man

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we give our first reactions to the reelection of Donald Trump and speculate about what trade and economic policy will look like in the next administration.

Nov 12, 202428 min

BRICS De-Dollarization Efforts, the G20, and a U.S. Manufacturing Outlook

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we talk about the BRICS Summit and efforts to move away from dollar dominance, the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers' Meeting, and a new study from the Peterson Institute's Robert Lawrence that assesses recent U.S. efforts to re-shore manufacturing jobs.

Nov 04, 202428 min

Live at the National Small Business Exporter Summit

This week, the Trade Guys recorded their show live at the National Small Business Exporter Summit hosted by NASBITE International. They talk U.S. elections and the services economy, then field questions from the audience.

Oct 28, 202437 min

USMCA Renewal, Nobel Prize in Economics, and the Return of the Pandas

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we preview the upcoming 2026 renewal of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), dig into the Nobel-winning work on the importance of societal institutions for a country’s prosperity, and discuss the return of pandas from China to the National Zoo.

Oct 21, 202431 min

Big Questions on Trump's Tariff Authorities and the Causes of Inflation

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we look at two recent pieces of note. Check out "Making Tariffs Great Again: Does President Trump Have Legal Authority to Implement New Tariffs on U.S. Trading Partners and China?" by Warren Maruyama, Lyric Galvin, and William A. Reinsch, as well as "Did supply chains deliver pandemic-era inflation?" by Phil Levy.

Oct 14, 202431 min

A Deep Dive on the Chinese Economy with Scott Kennedy

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we are lucky to be joined by Scott Kennedy, the Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS. Discussion topics include the origins of China's economic downturn, Taiwanese investment in China, and what the future may hold for the world's second-largest economy and its trade relationships.

Sep 23, 202436 min

New Export Controls, the Draghi Report, and Plans to Block Nippon Steel Deal

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we discuss the Commerce Department's recent export controls on quantum computing and other advanced technologies, a new report on European economic competitiveness from Mario Draghi, and reporting that the Biden Administration plans to block Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. Want to learn more about the intricacies of Washington? Sign up for Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People, a CSIS executive education course featuring Trade ...

Sep 16, 202433 min

The China Challenge: Tariffs from Canada, Deepening Ties with the EU, and the Drawbacks of De-Risking in India

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we look at how diverse countries from around the world are managing their respective trade relationships with China. Topics include the recent Canadian tariffs on Chinese EVs, the EU's trade connections with China, and why de-risking in India may not mean a clean break from China. Want to learn more about the intricacies of Washington? Sign up for Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People, a CSIS executive education course featuring Trade Guy Scott Miller...

Sep 09, 202427 min

What Opinion Polling Tells Us About the Public’s Views on Trade

On this week's episode of the Trade Guys, we examine recent polls released by the Cato Institute and Pew Research that examined how Americans think about trade. Note that the appendix referenced near the end of the episode is from a 2022 survey by Gallup.

Aug 26, 202423 min