Webinar: Food Industry Tariffs: Risks, Refunds and What's Next by The Food Institute

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About This Webinar

Tariff policy can feel like it has completely changed from one day to the next, but the food and beverage industry must continue to adapt and face a rapidly-changing landscape of legal challenges, tax implications, financing pressures, and shifting market dynamics.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, The Food Institute hosted an hour-long session of presentations and panel discussion featuring Lou Biscotti and Mark Baran of CBIZ; Buzz Burwell and Chris Cushing of Nelson Mullins; and Todd Giles of BMO.

The webinar examined where tariff policy stood, what recent legislative and legal developments meant for food businesses, how tariff refunds and mitigation strategies were unfolding, and how financial markets were responding to continued uncertainty.

Topics covered included:
• The latest tariff developments affecting the U.S. food industry
• Tariff litigation, refund opportunities, and evolving trade policy
• The political and legislative outlook for tariffs
• Financial market impacts, financing trends, and access to capital
• Tax considerations and strategies for managing tariff exposure
• Practical guidance for navigating ongoing tariff uncertainty

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This Event was Sponsored by CBIZ

From farm to fork, optimize operations, control costs, and prioritize profits. CBIZ teams work across the supply chain—supporting agribusinesses, manufacturers, distributors, processors, importers, restaurants, retailers, and hospitality concepts in achieving their goals.

CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:CBZ) is a publicly traded, leading professional services advisor to middle market businesses and organizations nationwide. With unmatched industry knowledge and expertise in accounting, tax, advisory, benefits, insurance and technology, CBIZ delivers forward-thinking insights and actionable solutions to help you anticipate next steps and accelerate growth.

We help your organization navigate challenges, turn risk into opportunity and drive sustainable, long-term excellence — where you are today and wherever you want to grow. Our 9,500+ team members across 23 major markets provide top-tier industry expertise with local delivery, relationships and support. To learn more, visit CBIZ.com.

Louis Biscotti

Managing Director and National Food and Beverage Industry Leader, CBIZ

Louis Biscotti is the national leader of CBIZ’s Food and Beverage Services group. He has been an entrepreneurial leader in accounting for over 40 years. Mr. Biscotti has focused his efforts on improving his clients’ growth and profitability and has guided many companies in their development from small emerging entities into organizations worth hundreds of millions of dollars. While his clients represent a variety of industries, he is particularly well known for his work in manufacturing and distribution, especially with food and beverage companies.

An active member of many local chambers of commerce, Mr. Biscotti served as a trustee for the Foundation for Accounting Education and was a board member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). He is a former president of the Accounting Circle and an Executive Advisory Board member of St. John’s, his alma mater, and Molloy College. He also serves on the advisory boards for many of his clients, where the cumulative experience of his 40 years in practice and work with nearly 1,000 companies gives those clients an invaluable edge.

Mark Baran

Managing Director, National Tax Office, CBIZ

Mark Baran is a Managing Director in the National Tax Office. He has more than 25 years of tax, transactional and legal experience advising publicly-traded and private companies, regulated financial institutions, investors, high net worth individuals, and government agencies.

Mark’s practice areas include providing tax consulting and transactional services to a broad spectrum of clients and industries including the public sector. He routinely provides tax opinions on the tax implications of proposed transactions, products, services and initiatives, and serves as a firm resource in the areas of financial services and products, regulatory compliance and planning, lending transactions and payment obligations, tax information reporting, expert witness support, asset management and tax controversies.

Mark also advises governments in developing countries on the design and implementation of tax and fiscal reform programs. Areas of expertise include M&A planning and due diligence, corporate reorganizations and dissolution, financing transactions, S corporations, tax and policy administration, and cross border transactions.

Previously, Mark was a director in the national tax office and a federal practice tax leader for a Big Four accounting firm. He also practiced law at a prominent law firm in Washington DC, served as a
director and senior tax counsel for a leading financial services trade association, and worked as a senior attorney for an independent agency of the federal government.

Mark is licensed in Florida, Georgia, and Washington D.C.

Chris Cushing

Government Relations Group Leader | Managing Principal, Nelson Mullins

Chris has 35 years of experience in government, politics, and corporate public policy issues, and he is an experienced political advisor and strategist, having served in leadership positions on winning presidential campaigns on three continents. Chris leads the federal and state lobbying practice firmwide.

Buzz Burwell

Partner, Nelson Mullins

Buzz is a senior partner of the corporate/securities/tax division and serves as co-leader of the firm’s International Practice Group, Sanctions Practice Group, and Aerospace Defense & National Security Practice Group member. With over four decades of legal experience, Buzz is widely recognized for his leadership in international law, export trade controls and OFAC sanctions, and U.S. Customs compliance.

His practice spans a broad array of industries including automotive, aviation, manufacturing, procurement and logistics. Buzz advises multinational corporations on customs and trade matters, cross-border transactions, foreign direct investment, export controls (OFAC, ITAR, EAR, OISP), CFIUS matters, and government contracts. He represents clients from more than 20 countries and is sought for his SME counsel in complex M&A transactions involving foreign parties as well as outbound supply and logistics transactions.

Todd Giles

BMO Managing Director and Group Head of Food, Consumer & Agribusiness

Todd Giles is the Managing Director and Group Head of Food, Consumer & Agribusiness team at BMO. In his current role, he leads a team of financial professionals in the delivery of financial and strategic advisory services for global corporate clients across key industry verticals including protein, dairy, commodities, wine/spirits, beverage, & franchise. He brings 30 years of experience in financial services and is dedicated to cultivating long-term partnerships with clients that drive growth, optimize capital structures, and enhance shareholder value.

A strategic leader, Todd has orchestrated significant growth throughout his tenure by refining BMO’s go-to-market strategy, establishing separate industry verticals to drive specialization, and implementing strategic initiatives that drive revenue growth.

Prior to his current role, Todd led BMO’s Atlanta Commercial Banking office, which he established and grew from inception starting in 2012. There he managed a team of junior bankers dedicated to middle-market clients, with a specialized focus on the Food, Consumer, and Agribusiness sectors. His leadership in the region was the growth engine for BMO to expand its Commercial Banking efforts that now includes over 40 bankers.

A firm believer in empowering individuals to reach their full potential, Todd fosters a strong culture focused on strengthening internal capabilities through engaged mentorship and coaching.

Before transitioning to commercial banking, Todd worked in investment banking for over a decade. While at J.P. Morgan and BMO, he developed his strategic analysis and expertise in capital structure that has been instrumental throughout his career.

Beyond his professional career, Todd is passionate about mentoring the next generation of finance professionals. For over 15 years, he has mentored Morehouse College students, helping over 60 graduates secure positions at BMO. He also is a guest instructor at Morehouse and is dedicated to increasing exposure to finance and banking for students of color. Deeply committed to his community, Todd serves on the Boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Youth Villages.

Todd holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Morehouse College. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he is a member of the AICPA and the Georgia Society of CPAs.

Outside of work, Todd is an avid car enthusiast and enjoys repairing, restoring, and racing, with a particular love for vintage models. He has been married to his wife, Tanya, for 20 years and they enjoy life in Milton Georgia and Chicago with their two children.

Chris Campbell

Vice President of Content and Insights at The Food Institute

Chris Campbell has been with The Food Institute since 2015, and currently serves as Vice President of Content and Insights. He helps lead content direction across the company’s written, video, and podcast content. Additionally, he is the host of The Food Institute Podcast and Food for Thought Leadership and acts as moderator for a variety of the company's webinars, seminars, and livestream events. Chris has covered several elements of the industry in his time with The Food Institute, including markets analysis, regulatory issues, mergers and acquisitions, and demographic reviews, giving him a comprehensive view of the state of the industry. Chris is an alumnus of Rutgers University.