A conversation with Matt Gertken and Clete Willems

Trump’s Tariffs And Trade Policy: What Should Investors Expect In A Second Term?

May 1, 2024, 10:00 AM EST | 2:00 PM GMT

You are cordially invited to join this exclusive BCA Access live webcast:

  • What lessons can be drawn from President Trump’s first term that would be useful in any second term? Is there likely to be a systematic policy formation process?
  • What do you expect from Trump’s trade policy in a second term? Will China remain the chief focus and what is the ultimate goal? Will Trump expand tariffs aggressively? Will he continue with Biden’s high-tech export controls?
  • What countries other than China will face trade scrutiny? What obstacles will Trump’s trade policy face from the bureaucracy and legal system?
  • What are Trump’s domestic policy priorities in a second term, particularly with regard to the economy and manufacturing? How will priorities like immigration, tax reform, and industrial policy be sequenced? What if Republicans fail to take control of both House and Senate?

Webcast Date: May 1, 2024
Webcast Time: 10:00 am EST

To register, please provide us with your contact details. Registrants will receive the live web streaming link before this webcast begins. You will be set up with “trial access” to the BCA Research website including access to the video replay.

RSVP by Monday, April 29, 2024

 

BCA Access Speaker Bios and Experience

Matt Gertken, PhD

Chief Geopolitical Strategist, BCA Research

Matt Gertken is BCA Research’s Chief Strategist, Geopolitical Strategy and US Political Strategy. He oversees the firm’s coverage of market-relevant policy developments across the world. He has 16 years’ experience in the field and appears frequently in global news media. Prior to joining BCA in 2015, Matt worked as a Senior Analyst at STRATFOR (Strategic Forecasting) and in a range of academic and publishing roles. Matt holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin.

Clete Willems

Trade and International Economic Policy Expert, Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Clete Willems is a partner at Akin where he advises clients, including investors, trade associations and multinational companies, on international economic law and policy matters. With over 16 years of U.S. government experience, he offers clients strategic guidance and legal representation on trade, investment, finance, economic development and export controls, among other issues.

Throughout his career, Clete has been at the forefront of policy developments impacting U.S.-China competition and he has helped clients navigate all aspects of this relationship.

Before joining Akin, Clete served in the White House as the Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economics and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council. This position was also part of the National Security Council. In this role, he was the lead U.S. negotiator at multilateral summits, serving as the President’s Sherpa at the G-7 and G-20 Summits and the lead negotiator at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.

Clete was also deeply involved in negotiations with major U.S. trading partners, such as China, the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea, Canada and Mexico. In addition, Clete helped the administration achieve key legislative victories, including the passage of development finance reform legislation and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reform legislation.

Prior to joining the White House, Clete worked at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for eight years. Among other positions, Clete served as Chief Counsel for Negotiations, Legislation and Administrative law, and Legal Advisor to the U.S. Mission to the WTO. He was heavily involved in both trade policy issues and WTO litigation.

Before joining USTR, Clete worked as Counsel on the House Budget Committee and in multiple positions, including Legislative Director, for then-Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI). In this role, he was successful in helping pass multiple pieces of trade and energy-related legislation into law.

In addition to being part of Akin’s lobbying & public policy practice, Clete works closely with the international trade team on issues related to the WTO, CFIUS and sanctions. He has participated in more than 30 WTO proceedings.