Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast US ports and logistics suffer from tariff chaos
May 20, 2025
Juliette Kayyem, a national security analyst for CNN and former Obama administration official, discusses the chaos caused by fluctuating U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. She highlights how these tariff changes are leading to uncertainty at U.S. ports and crippling small businesses. The conversation dives into the resilience of supply chains amid disruptions, the broader economic impacts, and the worrying signs of America's credit score downgrade. Kayyem emphasizes the need for sustainable trade policies amidst this turbulent landscape.
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Tariffs Disrupt Economic Ecosystem
- Trump's tariffs on China disrupted a massive, complex economic ecosystem with many ripple effects.
- Supply chains require consistency and predictability, which the tariffs destroyed, causing logistics chaos.
Rushed Shipping and Uncertainty
- The 90-day tariff pause led to frantic shipping activity as businesses rushed to meet the August deadline.
- Uncertainty about post-August tariffs causes confusion and spontaneous, unplanned supply chain responses.
Empty Shelves Drive Tariff Delay
- Empty shelves and supply shortages finally made Trump act to delay tariffs on Chinese goods.
- Many affected goods are perishable or livestock, making delays and disruptions more severe.
