DTC Podcast Bonus: Navigating the Tariff Regime with Passport's Alex Yancher: Duty Drawbacks, International Logistics, and the Arbitrage Opportunity Abroad
May 28, 2025
In this discussion, Alex Yancher, Co-founder & CEO of Passport, dives into the shifting landscape of international e-commerce. He explains how recent tariff hikes are forcing DTC brands to rethink their inventory strategies. Duty drawback programs are highlighted as a crucial tool for cost recovery, but success depends on precise inventory data. Yancher emphasizes the importance of localizing brand messaging and utilizing DDP shipping to enhance customer experience abroad. He also touches on the upcoming Canada Post strike and its potential impact on logistics.
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Rising US Tariffs Reshape Strategies
- The US tariff floor has risen to 30–50%, significantly reshaping brand cost structures.
- Brands must rethink global expansion to avoid steep tariffs by moving product directly abroad or using duty drawback programs.
Master Duty Drawback Programs
- Implementing a duty drawback program requires precise inventory matching from import to export.
- Brands need clean, accurate inventory data and must manage returns carefully to gain government tariff refunds.
Tariffs as Revenue Strategy
- Tariffs have become a bipartisan strategy viewed as a fast revenue generator for the US government.
- This trend is likely permanent with tariffs acting as a budget balancing tool, not just a trade tactic.