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Crash Course: Trade Policy with the Trade Guys

Are you new to international trade, or looking for a refresher course on American trade policy? CSIS Executive Education is pleased to offer "Crash Course," a one-day seminar on the fundamentals of U.S. international trade policy and politics.

Let's Talk India

In this episode, the Trade Guys welcome another special guest: CSIS’ resident India scholar, Rick Rossow. Rossow holds the CSIS Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, and formerly served as the deputy director of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC). What’s with the President’s beef with India on Harley Davidson? What trade war is brewing between the U.S. and India?

Saturday Night, Saturday Night. We All Get Together on Saturday Night!

Three things happened last weekend that deserve brief comment.

Six Months Later: An Evaluation

Any evaluation must look both at the policy and its implementation—regular readers of this column may remember the story of the grasshopper and the ant. If the latter is flawed, then the merits of the policy end up being little more than a footnote.

WTO Reform: The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning?

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have become increasingly frustrated with all three of its main functions: monitoring member states’ trade policies, providing a forum to negotiate new trade agreements, and arbitrating trade disputes. In recent months, this has triggered an effort to reform the WTO—what U.S. ambassador to the WTO Dennis Shea termed “the Autumn of WTO reform.”

Fixing the WTO

CSIS was privileged last week to host the U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dennis Shea, for a public conversation. Ambassador Shea did not make front page news, no doubt much to his relief. No surprise there. Even in the best of circumstances, the WTO rarely makes the front page, and we are hardly in the best of circumstances. He did, however, do an excellent job of both defending and explaining the administration's policy toward the organization. 

Reframing the Trade Debate

There is no question that the president has reframed the debate on trade in the United States. As I have said many times, after 30 years below the fold in the business section (for you, millennials, that’s a reference to old-fashioned newspapers), trade is now on the front page every day. As it turns out, that has had both good and bad consequences.

Trade Guys on the Road: University of Maryland Edition

The Trade Guys continue their recording tour; this time at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. They are joined by a special guest, Rick Powers, the Port of Baltimore's director of marketing. The guys and Rick discuss updates on NAFTA, the tit-for-tat with China, and roll-on/roll-off (a.k.a. RoRo) shipping's relationship with tariffs.

What is Dumping?

Being subject to dumping can cause some serious harm and lead to intense fights – and no, we’re not talking about the latest celebrity breakup. In the context of trade, politicians will often blame other countries for “dumping” products into the United States. What are they talking about and, how can companies and the government respond to dumping? Well, like any big breakup, it’s complicated. Watch this video with Trade Guy Bill Reinsch to find out more.

Safeguards: The Dirty Laundry of Trade Policy?

U.S. consumers love choices. But, choice in the U.S. market means American manufacturers face stiff competition at home and abroad.

Whither, or Wither, WTO?

WTO negotiations have all but ground to a halt while countries flout their obligations. U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and imports from China have put additional pressure on the WTO’s rules and relevancy.

Imports: Part of America's Secret Sauce

The U.S. is slapping tariffs on imports from other countries. But what do we import and who are imports for? Trade Guy Scott Miller explains.

U.S. Protectionism and the EU-Japan Trade Deal

Trade Guys Bill Reinsch and Scott Miller discuss the United States’ counter-offensive against WTO lawsuits filed by China, the EU, Canada, Mexico, and Turkey.

What’s the “Bretton Woods” System?

While today the U.S. is in a trade war with China, the foundations of international trade were laid to avoid war altogether.

Goodbye to Harley Davidson and the WTO?

Trade Guys Bill Reinsch and Scott Miller discuss Harley Davidson’s decision to outsource some of their production and why it has upset the President.