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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William Alan Reinsch's Reports

Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Insights into the “Pay Now, Argue Later” Mechanism

The “pay now, argue later” tax administration scheme requires taxpayers to settle tax obligations before filing a complaint, which can introduce uncertainty and financial strain for investors, potentially discouraging both expansion and long-term investment.

Report by William Alan Reinsch and Thibault Denamiel — May 20, 2026

William Alan Reinsch’s Commentary

Photo: ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP via Getty Images

Photo: ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP via Getty Images

Not a TACO Moment

In this week’s column, Bill Reinsch describes the latest turbulence in U.S.-Canada trade relations, and its effect on North America economic integration.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — August 26, 2026

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Featured Podcast

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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Not a TACO Moment

In this week’s column, Bill Reinsch describes the latest turbulence in U.S.-Canada trade relations, and its effect on North America economic integration.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — August 26, 2026

The Trade Guys

U.S.-Canada Trade, De Minimis Exemption, and Tariff Evasion and Transshipment

The Trade Guys discuss the latest developments in U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, a recent court ruling on the Trump administration's 2025 move to end the de minimis exemption, and a new White House report on tariff evasion and transshipment.

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — August 24, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys

The Emperor’s Wardrobe Malfunction

In this week’s column, Bill Reinsch argues that countries have begun adapting to the Trump administration’s trade policy by pursuing nonbinding agreements that offer immediate appeasement but provide limited enforceability.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — August 19, 2026

The Trade Guys

Zainab Usman on Critical Minerals and AGOA

Bill and Scott welcome Zainab Usman, senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, to discuss critical minerals and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Podcast Episode by Scott Miller and William Alan Reinsch — August 17, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys

Litigation Review

In this week's column, Bill Reinsch outlines the outstanding lawsuits against the Trump administration's tariffs.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — August 12, 2026

The Trade Guys

Senate Farm Bill, Currency Markets, and Forced Labor

Bill and Scott break down the trade provisions of the Senate Farm Bill, the U.S.-Japan intervention in currency markets, and the Trump administration's latest enforcement actions targeting goods linked to forced labor.

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — August 10, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys

The People Are Restless

In this week's column, Bill Reinsch argues that there is growing congressional and labor opposition to the Trump administration's use of tariffs.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — August 5, 2026

The Trade Guys

Tariffs, Tariffs, Tariffs: Sections 338 & 301 and the Russia Sanctions Bill

Bill and Scott discuss the Trump administration's proposed new tariffs on Canada under Section 338, the implementation of Section 301 tariffs on more than 80 countries, and the Russia Sanctions Bill currently making its way through Congress.

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — August 3, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys

Tariff Follies Scene 47

In this week's column, Bill Reinsch provides an assessment of the Trump administration's trade policy: its objectives, implementation, and evolution.

Commentary by William Alan Reinsch — July 29, 2026

Audio Briefs

Tariff Follies Scene 47

An audio version of "⁠Tariff Follies Scene 47⁠," a new commentary by CSIS’s William Alan Reinsch. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by William Alan Reinsch — July 29, 2026

Audio Briefs