The Trade Guys

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott unpack the latest on the economic impacts of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. They also look at the Trump administration's efforts to implement tariffs under Sections 122 and 301. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott talk with Kate Koren, Deputy Director of the Economics Program at CSIS. She discusses the latest efforts in Congress to align U.S. export controls with partners, including the MATCH Act bill. They also cover new Section 232 tariffs on pharmaceuticals and metals and the White House's budget request for Fiscal Year 2027. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott reflect on the anniversary of Liberation Day and how President Trump has reshaped the global economic landscape. They also react to the failure to renew the global moratorium on e-commerce taxation at the 14th WTO Ministerial and new Chinese investigations into U.S. trade practices.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill opens with an update on the ongoing 14th WTO Ministerial Conference and the legislative implementation of the EU-U.S. trade deal. Bill and Scott then dive into the completed EU-Australia trade deal, the Trump administration's temporary pause on oil sanctions on Russia and Iran, new steel tariffs in the UK, and the new Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the U.S. and Ecuador. 

Bill and Scott discuss the SCOTUS ruling on the IEEPA tariffs one month after its decision, unpack the challenges and sanctions in the U.S.-Cuba relationship, and give an update on USMCA.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott welcome Victor Cha, who is president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea chair at CSIS, as well as a Distinguished Professor at Georgetown University. Victor discusses a series of cases from his new book, China's Weaponization of Trade, which examines how and in what ways the United States and China have deployed economic coercion, focusing on China’s extensive use of this tactic over the past three decades

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott dive into the impacts of the Iran Conflict on world trade, especially for energy markets. Bill then gives an update on the Court of International Trade's efforts to implement the Supreme Court's IEEPA decision. They conclude by unpacking an escalating trade war between Ecuador and Colombia. 

The Trade Guys make sense of the initial fallout from the SCOTUS decision, including refunds, potential tariff stacking, and impacts on industries and the international community. They also discuss potential changes in the EU-China relationship following German chancellor Merz's visit to Beijing.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the current status of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and also unpack a Senate bill proposing to revise the "First Sale" rule governing how tariffs are collected. They close with a look at the recent trade deal between the United States and Taiwan.

On this emergency episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott break down the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision striking down President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for broad tariffs and discuss the implications of the decision for global trade.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott unpack why House members voted to override President Trump's tariffs on Canada and what will come next. They also look at recent Indian dealmaking with the U.S. and EU, rising trade tensions between the EU and China, and the return of shipping commerce to the Suez Canal route. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott react to the recently announced U.S. critical minerals stockpile and a broader effort to work with allies on price floors. They also discuss plummeting oil shipments to Cuba under Trump administration pressure, as well as continued efforts in the EU to sanction and decouple from Russia.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott react to President Trump's threat to impose 100 percent tariffs on Canada. They also discuss their takeaways from the aftermath of the World Economic Forum in Davos and several proposals to reform the World Trade Organization.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss President Trump's tariff threats surrounding Greenland and the outcomes of the World Economic Forum in Davos. They also look at a series of new trade agreements, including a deal between China and Canada, and close by unpacking Trump's deals on pharmaceutical pricing. 

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the carveout for U.S. multinationals from key parts of the OECD’s 15% global minimum tax framework. They also unpack the unconventional announced semiconductor 232 tariffs and escalating diplomatic and economic tension between China and Japan.

The Trade Guys kick off 2026 with a special crossover episode featuring the Simply Trade podcast’s Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles. Together, the group explores what’s ahead for 2026, focusing on major global trade battlefronts including the Supreme Court, WTO, and USMCA.

On this week’s episode, the Trade Guys discuss President Trump’s decision to sell Nvidia H200 chips to China, the status of the U.S.-Indonesia trade deal, and North Pole tariffs ahead of the holidays.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss President Trump’s $12 billion aid package to U.S. farmers, China’s trade surplus hitting over $1 trillion despite U.S. tariffs, and USTR’s hearings with stakeholders on extending the USMCA.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott  unpack a proposal from the Trump administration to give a $2,000 tariff dividend to all low- and middle-income Americans. They also examine a new deal between the U.S. and UK on pharmaceuticals. Finally, we finish with a debate on whether bullying or persuasion is more effective in trade negotiations.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss new U.S. trade deals and framework agreements and the significance of "poison pill" clauses inserted into several of the deals. Scott also unpacks the impacts of trade on Thanksgiving foods.