William Alan Reinsch

Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
William Alan Reinsch

William Reinsch is a senior adviser and Scholl Chair emeritus with the Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Previously, he was a senior advisor at the law firm of Kelley, Drye & Warren and served for 15 years as president of the National Foreign Trade Council, which represents multinational companies on international trade and tax policy issues. From 2001 to 2016, he concurrently served as a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He is also an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, teaching a course in trade policy and politics. Reinsch also served as the under secretary of commerce for export administration during the Clinton administration. Prior to that, he spent 20 years on Capitol Hill, most of them as senior legislative assistant to the late senator John Heinz (R-PA) and subsequently to Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV). He holds a BA and an MA in international relations from the Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies respectively.

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Photo: Hisham Ibrahim/Getty Images

Photo: Hisham Ibrahim/Getty Images

Management Matters

This week, Bill Reinsch explores recent developments in the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security and how the Bureau can set itself up to fulfill its mandate.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — May 6, 2026

Photo: ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP via Getty Images

Trade or Aid

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — April 30, 2026

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The Trade Guys

The Trade Guys

Trade experts Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch break down the buzz around trade, how it affects policy, and how it impacts your day-to-day. The Trade Guys is hosted every week by H. Andrew Schwartz at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C.

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Management Matters

This week, Bill Reinsch explores recent developments in the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security and how the Bureau can set itself up to fulfill its mandate.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — May 6, 2026

The Trade Guys

U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions, New PRC Extraterritorial Rules, and Russia Sanctions Approaches

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott discuss the state of U.S.-Canada trade relations in the context of USMCA review, new Chinese regulations aimed at preventing foreign companies from shifting their supply chains out of the country, and EU and U.S. approaches to sanctioning Russia.

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — May 4, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys
The Trade Guys

U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions, New PRC Extraterritorial Rules, and Russia Sanctions Approaches

Bill and Scott discuss the state of U.S.-Canada trade relations in the context of USMCA review, new Chinese regulations aimed at preventing foreign companies from shifting their supply chains out of the country, and EU and U.S. approaches to sanctioning Russia.

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — May 4, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys

Trade or Aid

This week, Bill Reinsch assesses the Trump administration's “trade over aid" agenda at the United Nations, arguing that current U.S. trade policy does not encourage development in other countries.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — April 30, 2026

The Trade Guys

Tariff Refund Process, Trade Over Aid, and USTR Greer Testifies

Bill and Scott give an update on the launch of the tariff refund process, discuss the U.S. "Trade Over Aid" initiative and break down Jameison Greer's congressional testimony on the administration's trade agenda.
 

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — April 27, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys

The Rule of Holes

In this week's column, Bill Reinsch describes the effect the war in Iran is having on energy prices, transitions to green energy, and vulnerabilities of Gulf states.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — April 22, 2026

The Trade Guys

Hormuz Blockade Impacts and Trump's New Tariff Playbook

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott unpack the latest on the economic impacts of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. They also look at the Trump administration's efforts to implement tariffs under Sections 122 and 301.

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — April 20, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys

Everything Is Connected Part II

In this week's column, Bill Reinsch describes how the war in Iran has illustrated the unintended consequences of policy decisions, arguing for government action that anticipates and plans for contingencies.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — April 15, 2026

World Trade Organization Ministerial Post-Mortem

Looking back on the World Trade Organization ministerial, Bill Reinsch provides an overview of the event’s underwhelming deliverables and limited accomplishments.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — April 8, 2026