The Talking Trade hosts, Sandi Siegel and Ken Wasylik, talk with Sarah Helton, Government Procurement and Trade group leader for Michael Best Strategies about the Trump administration's evolving tariff policies. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Center on Manufacturing and Productivity, the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Carroll University, and Michael Best Strategies.

The latest episode of “Talking Trade” features Wisconsin Soybean Association President Doug Rebout on how U.S. tariffs impact the country’s soybean farmers. Rebout, who also serves as the chair of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculuture, Trade and Consumer Protection board, said there’s “so much uncertainty out there in global trade.” One of the biggest issues is China’s decision to largely stop buying soybeans from the U.S. since the country used to buy over 60% of the soybean export market...

Talking Trade hosts, Sandi Siegel and Ken Wasylik discuss the overall impact of global trading and trade's role in U.S. markets with Government Analytics CEO John Pournoor. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Center on Manufacturing and Productivity, the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Carroll University, and Michael Best Strategies.

The latest episode of “Talking Trade” features Laura Baughman, senior fellow with Trade Partnership Worldwide, on evolving U.S. trade policy. Baughman, who has worked with a variety of American businesses spanning multiple sectors, says tariffs are creating major uncertainty and confusion for companies. She’s a senior staff member for the Washington, DC-based international trade and economic research firm. “Nobody knows what to do, nobody knows who’s going to get hit and wit...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President and CEO Kurt Bauer emphasizes the state’s reliance on foreign markets for exported goods amid tariff-related uncertainty. Bauer highlights the central role of manufacturing in Wisconsin’s economy, calling it “our economic supersector” for creating jobs and wealth in the state. It makes up 18% of state GDP, compared to 12% for the Midwest and 8% nationally. The discussion explores how tariffs...

The latest episode of “Talking Trade” features Sandi Siegel, president and managing director of ME Dey & Co., a Milwaukee-based customs broker. Siegel, typically one of the show’s co-hosts, is interviewed by fellow host Ken Wasylik, managing director of E.M. Wasylik Associates. The discussion focuses on how Siegel’s company is advising clients on navigating the uncertain tariff landscape. She shares insights on where tariffs stand on certain key commodities such as steel and a...

In the latest episode of Talking Trade, Crow Holdings Industrial Vice President Jack Rabenn says a new air cargo facility set to open in Milwaukee will provide an alternative to the delays and congestion importers and exporters currently face in Chicago. Rabenn spoke with Talking Trade host Sandi Siegel about the new supply chain center set to open in the third quarter of next year at Milwaukee International Airport. He said under the current system, freight is trucked between Wis...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” British Consul General in Chicago Richard Hyde says the new trade deal between the United States and United Kingdom includes key provisions on agriculture that will benefit both countries. “This is something we’ve been talking about for a number of years, since we left the European Union this has been one of the big things that we’ve been trying to achieve,” Hyde said of the deal. “And it’s been challenging, and so it was a big breakthroug...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Prof. Denis Leclerc of the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University shares insights on negotiating international trade deals. Leclerc, who teaches cross-cultural communication and global negotiations, emphasizes the importance of building trust for developing international trade. He also raises the question of whether European countries and Canada can trust the United States as a trading partner amid ongoing tari...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Chris Wojtowicz of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center discusses the latest developments in federal tariff policy. Wojtowicz, an international trade consultant and chairman of the Wisconsin District Export Council, says he’s urging his clients to stay positive despite the current uncertainty. “The world’s not fallen or coming to an end, there are a lot of opportunities to be found out there … politics and governments and person...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Aquarius Systems President Jane Dauffenbach discusses how tariffs are impacting the North Prairie company. The business makes various machinery for aquatic applications, ranging from weed harvesters to excavators, transport barges and more. Dauffenbach says Aquarius Systems has been exporting since 1970, shipping aquatic plant harvesters to customers in Iceland’s kelp industry. Its products have now been shipped to dozens of countries acro...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Michael Best Strategies Partner Sarah Helton offers an update on the latest tariff developments. Helton, the practice group chair for government and trade for the advisory firm, said the recent 90-day reprieve from more substantial tariffs on most countries is giving businesses some wiggle room to adjust supply chains and other factors. “What a sigh of relief for a lot of companies that are impacted in a negative way by these tariffs...

In the latest “Talking Trade” podcast, WEDC Chief Operating Officer Sam Rikkers discusses tariffs, export trends and how the agency helps Wisconsin businesses reach international markets. He touches on a recent trade mission to Mexico that was organized by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. It included a handful of businesses across agriculture, manufacturing and chemical industries. Rikkers called the trip “tremendously successful” for the companies, most of which ha...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Michael Best Strategies Partner Sarah Helton discusses the impact new tariffs may have domestically and on major U.S. trading partners. Helton, the firm’s practice group chair for government procurement and trade, says President Trump’s newly enacted tariffs on steel and aluminum and other goods have created a “period of uncertainty” for the international trade landscape. “There hasn’t been much time for anyone to take a breath, so everyon...

In the latest edition of “Talking Trade,” Monex USA Chief Economist John Min shares insights on the U.S. economy as well as global trends. Monex USA is an international payment services business specializing in foreign currency. “For the last two years, many of my colleagues and fellow industry experts and market watchers, we’ve been expecting the U.S. economy to enter a recession … I also expected a recession last year,” he said, but noted newly adjusted models predict “another s...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Ben Miller of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin touts the opportunity for dairy exports to reach new markets. Miller, senior vice president of industry relations for the dairy business promotion group, shares insights on Wisconsin’s specialty cheese and other dairy products being shipped to markets around the world. While Canada and Mexico are the top export destinations, Miller says the group sees “a lot of growth” and opportunity in places like South...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Kallman Worldwide President and CEO Tom Kallman touts the prestige of U.S. medical products on the global stage. The interview was recorded during the recent Arab Health trade show in Dubai, where Kallman Worldwide has been organizing U.S. participation since 1995. At the time, the show included 27 American businesses — including major players such as Johnson & Johnson and GE Medical — and that’s grown to more than 400 in the 2025 conference...

In the latest edition of “Talking Trade,” Explore Markets Founder and Managing Partner Fredrik Udd discusses opportunities for doing business in Poland and other parts of Europe. Explore Markets, based in Poland, offers market research, supply chain help, export readiness assessments and other services. It works with international companies expanding operations in central and eastern Europe, as well as the Nordic nations. Udd touts the strength of the Polish economy, calling it a ...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” FTI Consulting Managing Director Nick Baker says trade tensions with China are “guaranteed” to escalate going forward. Baker, a licensed customs broker with the Washington, D.C.-based advisory firm, weighs in on the impacts of ongoing tariffs on Chinese goods. He predicted trade conflicts between the United States and China would continue to rise. The interview was done before the election. “The primary question is, how quickly, to w...

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” consultant Mickeala Carter offers insights on the next U.S. farm bill and ag export trends. “When you’re thinking about agricultural exports and what that means for our farmers here, a lot of that now is due to U.S. ag output growing faster than domestic demand for a lot of products, and some of those products include those of importance to Wisconsin, like dairy products, meats, vegetables,” said Carter, senior director of government affairs for...