Big Technology Podcast

Trade War Scorecard: What's Changing, Who's Winning, What's Next — With Ryan Petersen

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Jul 9, 2025
Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport, dives into the shifting tides of global trade. He demystifies the impact of new tariffs and container costs, revealing their effects on inflation and manufacturing. Petersen highlights the rising priority of customs fraud enforcement and how it reshapes white-collar crime. The discussion also touches on the role of AI and robotics in logistics, and the environmental challenges, like the Panama Canal drought, that disrupt supply chains. Get insights on what's changing in global trade!
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INSIGHT

Tariffs Fluctuated Cargo Volumes

  • Tariffs on Chinese imports have been fluctuating drastically, initially hitting 145% then easing to about 30%.
  • This caused a temporary 60% drop in cargo volume, followed by an 80% rebound above pre-tariff levels.
INSIGHT

Why Tariffs Are Backfiring and Sending Manufacturing Out of the US

Tariffs intended to boost American manufacturing by penalizing imports, especially from China, are having the opposite effect. Companies manufacturing in the US often import components and face higher duties, making exports less competitive and pushing them to relocate to countries like Mexico that avoid these tariffs.

Ryan Petersen explains how tariffs raise costs and uncertainty, discouraging new investments in the US while increasing complexity in global supply chains. He also discusses currency manipulation, industrial policies, and environmental regulation disparities as factors giving foreign manufacturers an edge.

Rather than increasing domestic manufacturing, the tariffs are causing firms to move production out of China but also out of the US, hindering the Trump administration's goals. Clarity and multi-year planning on tariff policies would help businesses make better decisions.

INSIGHT

China’s Trade Advantage Factors

  • China's manufacturing dominance and currency manipulation are key U.S. concerns in trade imbalances.
  • Environmental, labor, and regulatory disparities further tilt competitive advantages towards China.
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