Thursday, December 11, 2025 | The National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
The 2025 Trade & Competition Policy Forum, hosted by The Capitol Forum, will convene leading trade lawyers, policymakers, economists, strategists, and in-house counsels to examine the shifting dynamics of global trade, competition, and sustainability in an era of economic realignment.
Through keynote addresses and panel discussions, participants will explore how new policy developments—from the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) review to the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence Directive—are reshaping the global economy and redefining cross-border compliance, supply chain management, and labor standards.
The morning sessions will focus on U.S. trade developments and enforcement trends, while the afternoon will turn to European initiatives and the region’s evolving relationships with both the United States and China.
Keynote Conversation with Ambassador Katherine Tai, former United States Trade Representative
Future of USMCA – How each party’s objectives and leverage will play into negotiations
The End of De Minimis – Implications for e-commerce, global markets, and trade equity in the U.S. and Europe
CBAM, Supply Chains, and Corporate Sustainability in the EU – The next phase of climate and human-rights accountability in global trade
Navigating U.S.–China Rivalry – Europe’s strategic balancing act in an era of industrial policy and investment screening
Please view the full agenda for detailed session descriptions and speaker updates.
Speakers will be announced in November. We encourage you to add this event to your calendar and stay tuned for updates throughout the month.
For questions or partnership opportunities, please contact events@tcfpress.com.
Add event to calendar
Teddy Downey – Founder, CEO & Executive Editor, The Capitol Forum; Host of The Second Request Podcast
For more than 14 years, Teddy Downey has led The Capitol Forum, guiding its growth into a leading source for investigative reporting on antitrust, trade, and regulatory policy. Named one of Washington, D.C.’s “500 Most Influential People” by Washingtonian magazine in 2024, he also hosts The Second Request podcast, where he speaks with policymakers, attorneys, and industry leaders about competition strategy and enforcement trends. Downey previously served as Senior Vice President at MF Global’s Washington Research Group and holds a B.A. from Columbia University.
Ambassador Katherine Tai, Former United States Trade Representative — 2025 Trade Policy Conference Keynote Speaker
Ambassador Katherine Tai is an expert in international economic policy and diplomacy who has dedicated her career to advancing fair, people-centered trade policies on the global stage. As the 19th United States Trade Representative and a member of President Biden’s Cabinet (2021–2025), she served as the nation’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson. Her leadership shaped the first worker-centered trade agenda in U.S. history, strengthening labor rights and promoting inclusive economic growth through U.S. engagement at the World Trade Organization, G20, G7, and other international forums.
Before her unanimous Senate confirmation, Ambassador Tai spent nearly two decades in public service focused on U.S. and international trade law. As Chief Trade Counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, she helped negotiate and secure passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), building on her earlier work at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where she served as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, she is fluent in Mandarin and began her career teaching in Guangzhou, China before entering public service.
Ms. Baltzan is a Senior Advisor at the Capitol Forum.
Previously, she served as Counselor for Trade and Investment to Ambassador Katherine Tai, President Biden’s United States Trade Representative. Ms. Baltzan served as an attorney at USTR from 2003 to 2009.
In 2009, Ms. Baltzan joined the Office of International Affairs at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, working on oversight in the wake of the financial crisis. In 2012, the PCAOB detailed her to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, where she investigated banking practices. Ms. Baltzan then served as Democratic Trade Counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee from 2012 to 2016.
After returning to USTR to work on litigation matters, in 2017 Ms. Baltzan formed her own trade consultancy practice. She was also a fellow at the Open Markets Institute.
Ms. Baltzan received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, with honors, from Stanford University.
Ms. Sopinska is a Senior Correspondent based in Brussels, covering trade policy in Europe.
Before joining the publication, she worked as Global Trade Correspondent at MLex in Brussels, focusing on regulatory risks and the impact of EU trade policies on businesses. She previously reported on trade for EU Trade Insights (2015-2017) and spent nine years at Europolitics, covering EU trade policy and regulatory affairs.
Ms. Sopinska holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Łódź and an MA in European Affairsfrom the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht.
Mr. Tracey is a Correspondent covering international trade policy and its impact on businesses, consumers, and workers. He previously worked at the Federal Trade Commission as a paralegal on congressional oversight, as a research assistant for competition and industrial policy at the Centre for Competition Policy, and as an intern at The Capitol Forum.
Mr. Tracey holds a bachelor’s in Government and Economics from Georgetown University and a master’s in Economics from the University of East Anglia, where he was a Fulbright scholar.
Speakers will be announced in November. Leaders from government and regulatory agencies will share insights into the evolving landscape of trade policy, economic security, and competition enforcement, alongside senior executives, trade lawyers, and corporate strategists who will offer first-hand perspectives on the commercial, legal, and compliance challenges shaping global markets.
Their expertise spans international trade, supply chains, sustainability, and cross-border regulation. Scholars, legal practitioners, and policy analysts will also examine the broader implications of shifting trade frameworks for labor, competition, and climate policy—drawing on rigorous research and real-world experience from leading universities, think tanks, and law firms.
National Press Club
Address: 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
On the Web: https://www.press.org
Venue & Location:
Located in the historic National Press Building, the Club sits in the heart of downtown Washington, DC—just steps from the White House and a short walk from the National Mall. The venue is one block from Metro Center station (Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) for easy public transit access, and a quick drive from Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Union Station (Amtrak).
Map: View on Google Maps
Questions? Contact The Capitol Forum team at info@thecapitolforum-news.com.
Add event to calendar
Conference Agenda
10:00–10:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks and Keynote Address
Remarks from The Capitol Forum leadership and a keynote address.
10:35–11:30 a.m. | Panel 1: Future of USMCA
The panel will explore what each party hopes to achieve with the negotiations and what leverage they have. The panel will examine the push to strengthen rules of origin, dispute settlement, and the future of labor rights in the agreement.
11:35 a.m.–12:35 p.m. | Panel 2: The End of De Minimis in the U.S. and its Future in Europe
Panelists will discuss how online retailers are navigating the end of de minimis in the U.S., the impact on global markets, and growing pressure for reform in Europe. The conversation will discuss how the end of de minimis intersects with labor and consumer protection issues.
12:35–1:30 p.m. | Lunch and a Conversation
A fireside conversation on the future of U.S. trade leadership, the role of Congress in shaping trade priorities, and lessons from the USMCA’s labor enforcement agenda.
1:35–2:35 p.m. | Panel 3: CBAM, Supply Chains, and Corporate Sustainability in the EU
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive are redefining how companies account for environmental and human rights risks in their operations. This panel will unpack how European policymakers are negotiating pushback from companies and the Trump administration.
2:40–3:40 p.m. | Panel 4: Navigating U.S.–China Rivalry and Europe’s Strategic Balancing Act
As geopolitical competition intensifies, Europe faces growing pressure to reconcile transatlantic alignment with its own strategic autonomy. This panel will explore how U.S. and EU trade and competition policies are evolving amid concerns over subsidies, investment screening, and supply chain resilience.
3:40–4:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks
Reflections on the day’s discussions and a look ahead to The Capitol Forum’s ongoing coverage of global trade and competition policy.
Thursday, December 11, 2025 | The National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
The 2025 Trade & Competition Policy Forum, hosted by The Capitol Forum, will convene leading trade lawyers, policymakers, economists, strategists, and in-house counsels to examine the shifting dynamics of global trade, competition, and sustainability in an era of economic realignment.
Through keynote addresses and panel discussions, participants will explore how new policy developments—from the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) review to the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence Directive—are reshaping the global economy and redefining cross-border compliance, supply chain management, and labor standards.
The morning sessions will focus on U.S. trade developments and enforcement trends, while the afternoon will turn to European initiatives and the region’s evolving relationships with both the United States and China.
Keynote Conversation with Ambassador Katherine Tai, former United States Trade Representative
Future of USMCA – How each party’s objectives and leverage will play into negotiations
The End of De Minimis – Implications for e-commerce, global markets, and trade equity in the U.S. and Europe
CBAM, Supply Chains, and Corporate Sustainability in the EU – The next phase of climate and human-rights accountability in global trade
Navigating U.S.–China Rivalry – Europe’s strategic balancing act in an era of industrial policy and investment screening
Please view the full agenda for detailed session descriptions and speaker updates.
Speakers will be announced in November. We encourage you to add this event to your calendar and stay tuned for updates throughout the month.
For questions or partnership opportunities, please contact events@tcfpress.com.
Add event to calendar
Teddy Downey – Founder, CEO & Executive Editor, The Capitol Forum; Host of The Second Request Podcast
For more than 14 years, Teddy Downey has led The Capitol Forum, guiding its growth into a leading source for investigative reporting on antitrust, trade, and regulatory policy. Named one of Washington, D.C.’s “500 Most Influential People” by Washingtonian magazine in 2024, he also hosts The Second Request podcast, where he speaks with policymakers, attorneys, and industry leaders about competition strategy and enforcement trends. Downey previously served as Senior Vice President at MF Global’s Washington Research Group and holds a B.A. from Columbia University.
Ambassador Katherine Tai, Former United States Trade Representative — 2025 Trade Policy Conference Keynote Speaker
Ambassador Katherine Tai is an expert in international economic policy and diplomacy who has dedicated her career to advancing fair, people-centered trade policies on the global stage. As the 19th United States Trade Representative and a member of President Biden’s Cabinet (2021–2025), she served as the nation’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson. Her leadership shaped the first worker-centered trade agenda in U.S. history, strengthening labor rights and promoting inclusive economic growth through U.S. engagement at the World Trade Organization, G20, G7, and other international forums.
Before her unanimous Senate confirmation, Ambassador Tai spent nearly two decades in public service focused on U.S. and international trade law. As Chief Trade Counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, she helped negotiate and secure passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), building on her earlier work at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where she served as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, she is fluent in Mandarin and began her career teaching in Guangzhou, China before entering public service.
Ms. Baltzan is a Senior Advisor at the Capitol Forum.
Previously, she served as Counselor for Trade and Investment to Ambassador Katherine Tai, President Biden’s United States Trade Representative. Ms. Baltzan served as an attorney at USTR from 2003 to 2009.
In 2009, Ms. Baltzan joined the Office of International Affairs at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, working on oversight in the wake of the financial crisis. In 2012, the PCAOB detailed her to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, where she investigated banking practices. Ms. Baltzan then served as Democratic Trade Counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee from 2012 to 2016.
After returning to USTR to work on litigation matters, in 2017 Ms. Baltzan formed her own trade consultancy practice. She was also a fellow at the Open Markets Institute.
Ms. Baltzan received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, with honors, from Stanford University.
Ms. Sopinska is a Senior Correspondent based in Brussels, covering trade policy in Europe.
Before joining the publication, she worked as Global Trade Correspondent at MLex in Brussels, focusing on regulatory risks and the impact of EU trade policies on businesses. She previously reported on trade for EU Trade Insights (2015-2017) and spent nine years at Europolitics, covering EU trade policy and regulatory affairs.
Ms. Sopinska holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Łódź and an MA in European Affairsfrom the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht.
Mr. Tracey is a Correspondent covering international trade policy and its impact on businesses, consumers, and workers. He previously worked at the Federal Trade Commission as a paralegal on congressional oversight, as a research assistant for competition and industrial policy at the Centre for Competition Policy, and as an intern at The Capitol Forum.
Mr. Tracey holds a bachelor’s in Government and Economics from Georgetown University and a master’s in Economics from the University of East Anglia, where he was a Fulbright scholar.
Speakers will be announced in November. Leaders from government and regulatory agencies will share insights into the evolving landscape of trade policy, economic security, and competition enforcement, alongside senior executives, trade lawyers, and corporate strategists who will offer first-hand perspectives on the commercial, legal, and compliance challenges shaping global markets.
Their expertise spans international trade, supply chains, sustainability, and cross-border regulation. Scholars, legal practitioners, and policy analysts will also examine the broader implications of shifting trade frameworks for labor, competition, and climate policy—drawing on rigorous research and real-world experience from leading universities, think tanks, and law firms.
National Press Club
Address: 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
On the Web: https://www.press.org
Venue & Location:
Located in the historic National Press Building, the Club sits in the heart of downtown Washington, DC—just steps from the White House and a short walk from the National Mall. The venue is one block from Metro Center station (Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) for easy public transit access, and a quick drive from Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Union Station (Amtrak).
Map: View on Google Maps
Questions? Contact The Capitol Forum team at info@thecapitolforum-news.com.
Add event to calendar
Conference Agenda
10:00–10:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks and Keynote Address
Remarks from The Capitol Forum leadership and a keynote address.
10:35–11:30 a.m. | Panel 1: Future of USMCA
The panel will explore what each party hopes to achieve with the negotiations and what leverage they have. The panel will examine the push to strengthen rules of origin, dispute settlement, and the future of labor rights in the agreement.
11:35 a.m.–12:35 p.m. | Panel 2: The End of De Minimis in the U.S. and its Future in Europe
Panelists will discuss how online retailers are navigating the end of de minimis in the U.S., the impact on global markets, and growing pressure for reform in Europe. The conversation will discuss how the end of de minimis intersects with labor and consumer protection issues.
12:35–1:30 p.m. | Lunch and a Conversation
A fireside conversation on the future of U.S. trade leadership, the role of Congress in shaping trade priorities, and lessons from the USMCA’s labor enforcement agenda.
1:35–2:35 p.m. | Panel 3: CBAM, Supply Chains, and Corporate Sustainability in the EU
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive are redefining how companies account for environmental and human rights risks in their operations. This panel will unpack how European policymakers are negotiating pushback from companies and the Trump administration.
2:40–3:40 p.m. | Panel 4: Navigating U.S.–China Rivalry and Europe’s Strategic Balancing Act
As geopolitical competition intensifies, Europe faces growing pressure to reconcile transatlantic alignment with its own strategic autonomy. This panel will explore how U.S. and EU trade and competition policies are evolving amid concerns over subsidies, investment screening, and supply chain resilience.
3:40–4:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks
Reflections on the day’s discussions and a look ahead to The Capitol Forum’s ongoing coverage of global trade and competition policy.
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