Ep. 52: Return of the Tariff Hammer? Presidential Trade Power and the Graham Russia Sanctions Bill

In this week's episode, our trade insiders dug into the “Graham Bill” - the bipartisan, bicameral Russia sanctions bill and its open-ended tariff authority. They debated its potential trade repercussions, whether tariffs or targeted export controls are the more effective tool, and whether placing tariffs on allies drives wedges rather than results. They also examined the administration's broader push to reconstruct a tariff regime reminiscent of the IEEPA era, Brazil's Section 301 case as a possible preview of what's ahead, stalled negotiations with India, Vietnam's own Section 301 investigation, and why trading partners may be slow-walking talks. The episode also returned to a broader question running through the discussion: will Congress take steps to reclaim its trade authority, or continue delegating authority to the Executive?Featured Speakers: Blake Harden, Managing Director, Washington Council Ernst & Young; previously served as Trade Counsel on the House Ways & Means Committee; and in the office of the Chief Counsel at U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionMayur Patel, Partner, Hogan Lovells; former Chief International Trade Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on FinanceNeena Shenai, Partner, International Trade Investment and Market Access, WilmerHale; former Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security at the US Department of Commerce; and former Trade Counsel, House Committee on Ways and MeansModerator: Mike Smart, Managing Director, Rock Creek Global Advisors; former Director for International Trade and Investment, National Security Council, The White House; former Trade Counsel, Democratic Staff, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance