ChinaTalk EMERGENCY POD: Tariffs on Trial
11 snips
Nov 6, 2025 
Peter Harrell, a former U.S. trade official, and Oren Cass, founder of American Compass, dive into the Supreme Court's examination of tariffs under the IEPA. They explore the complexities of U.S.-China trade relations, discussing the challenges of reciprocity and the implications of decoupling. The duo reflects on the strategic importance of the USMCA and ways it could reshape North American trade. They also assess the Biden and Trump administrations' differing approaches to economic strategy and national security concerning China.
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Three Separate Trade Battlegrounds
- Trade policy debates split into global tariffs, reciprocal deals with allies, and China-specific measures.
- Different legal and political paths are appropriate for each category, and Congress may be required for durable China policy.
Third-Country Commitments Against Chinese Circumvention
- Recent deals with Cambodia and Malaysia include clauses to notify and seek comparable action on Chinese-origin threats.
- Those provisions, if implemented, create mechanisms to limit third-country Chinese circumvention.
Make USMCA The Strategic Foundation
- Use USMCA as the linchpin to create a credible regional trading block with leverage over other partners.
- Negotiate enforceable commitments on balanced trade, security, and China-related risks within North America.