Ep. 47 – The Three B's: Trade Defense, Overcapacity, and Global Tensions

This week’s episode is a “travel log” edition as our panel returns fresh off trips to Beijing, Brussels, and Berlin. The discussion explores rising concerns over China’s industrial overcapacity, the expanding use of trade defense tools like Section 301, and the legal and policy timelines shaping upcoming U.S. tariff actions.In Europe, policymakers are balancing stability under recent trade arrangements with growing pressure to adopt stronger responses to China, while also managing tensions in their relationship with the United States. In China, officials continue to emphasize “comprehensive strategic stabilization” following recent diplomatic engagement, even as trade imbalances and export growth remain central concerns.The panel also examines emerging alignment between the U.S. and Europe on trade enforcement tools, alongside political and rhetorical friction that complicates cooperation. Finally, they discuss uncertainty around USMCA and the likelihood of renewed negotiation pressure rather than formal withdrawal.Featured Speakers:Introduction: Kenneth Levinson, CEO, WITA – The International Trade AssociationWendy Cutler, Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade RepresentativeDaniel Mullaney, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle EastStephen Vaughn, Partner, International Trade, King & Spalding LLP; former General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative under first Trump AdministrationKellie Meiman Hock, Senior Counselor, McLarty Associates; Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University; Board Member, Inter-American Dialogue; former Director of Brazil and the Southern Cone, Office of the United States Trade Representative