Justin Sherlock is the co-founder and CEO of Caspian, an AI-native duty drawback platform designed to help brands navigate complex global trade and tariff environments. Prior to Caspian, Justin gained deep experience in finance and logistics at Flexport, where he led Flexport Capital, and previously had several years experience in private equity.
In this episode, Justin breaks down the rapidly changing landscape of tariffs, duties, and global supply chains—especially relevant amid recent policy moves and volatile trade relations. He explains what customs brokers, tariffs, and duty drawbacks are, why these concepts matter for brands importing and exporting goods, and how most businesses are missing out on significant duty refund opportunities. Justin also offers real-world insights for DTC operators facing escalating tariffs, discusses strategies for mitigating increased costs, and shares how AI is making advanced trade advisory accessible beyond just Fortune 500 companies.
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On this episode we cover
Rising tariffs and global trade dynamics
Supply chain challenges for DTC brands
Role and importance of customs brokers
Duty drawback: process and benefits
Impact of US-China tariff escalation
Technology and AI in trade compliance
Strategies for brands to navigate tariffs
Timestamps
03:59 From Flexport to Caspian
09:31 Customs Compliance
11:11 Understanding Tariff and Duty Classification
15:54 Trump's Tariff Strategy: A Provocative Move
18:26 Debate Over Section 321 Provision
22:46 "Supply Chain Opportunities and Challenges"
25:03 Reshoring Critical Industries Strategy
28:04 10% Tariff Impact on US Businesses
32:53 Optimizing Supply Chain and Vendor Management
36:22 Trade Predictions: Japan, Taiwan, India, Vietnam
37:52 Geopolitical Isolationism and China's Rise
41:41 "Navigating Duty Drawback Challenges"
45:07 International Pricing and Tax Strategies
48:07 Future of Supply Chain Optimization
Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.
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Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:
DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement
Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content
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Justin Sherlock - Founder of Caspian
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
