Description

This episode of "The Chairman's Countdown with Zach Mottl" is a program on The Made in America Hour that featured a conversation with Charles Benoit, Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA)'s own trade counsel and a nationally recognized leader on trade policy.

The show opens with a welcome and a brief teaser of the day's topics, including the latest on Section 232 investigations, the President's new manufacturing policy signals, and the hundreds of billions of dollars pledged by U.S. allies. The discussion also touched upon India's emergence as a major trade competitor and featured a special segment with Charles Benoit on specific tariffs and his recent op-ed in The American Conservative.

The first major segment of the show focused on updates regarding Section 232 investigations by the Department of Commerce. On the topic of chips, the discussion centered on potential semiconductor safeguard measures and supply chain security. For pharmaceuticals, with insights from Jon Toomey, President of the CPA, the show covered the status of critical medicines investigations and the growing momentum for reshoring. The hosts also provided an update on steel, noting that a new update was expected soon in the Federal Register. They revealed that 50 inclusion requests and decision memos would be posted on regulations.gov shortly, which will have significant implications for both steelmakers and downstream manufacturers.

Zach Mottl added his commentary on how the timing and scope of these decisions will shape the strategies of manufacturers.The program then provided a teaser for an upcoming deep dive into specific tariffs with Charles Benoit, highlighting his June op-ed in The American Conservative. Benoit's insights covered the role of targeted, specific tariffs in leveling the playing field and what to expect in the next round of tariff announcements. This segment also previewed a discussion on presidential signals regarding industrial policy and trade, including a recap of the President's recent comments and expectations for announcements in the late summer and fall, as well as potential year-end moves.

Zach Mottl shared his perspective on these commitments and what to anticipate over the next twelve months. The show also offered an overview of the hundreds of billions pledged by the European Union and other allies in exchange for managed trade arrangements. These funds are projected to be allocated to domestic production, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing, though the hosts noted the risks and accountability challenges of ensuring these pledges become real investments, citing Japan as a prime example.

The core of the show was a segment featuring an interview with Charles Benoit and Zach Mottl. The two made a case for specific tariffs over percentage-based measures, discussing potential upcoming tariff targets and timing. They explored how these tools could be applied to industries like steel and pharmaceuticals, referencing key points from Benoit’s June op-ed. A separate segment was dedicated to examining India as a major trade competitor. The hosts highlighted India's rising tariffs and its history of what they called "trade cheating," using the example of generic pharmaceuticals and their impact on domestic manufacturers. They drew parallels between India's state-driven policies and China's trade circumvention tactics, emphasizing why India should be watched as a significant competitor and "rule-bender."

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