Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

163 - Supply Chain Meltdown: Tariffs, Shortages, and the New Trade War with Craig Fuller


Listen Later

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨

Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Craig Fuller (https://x.com/freightAlley), the Bloomberg of freight and logistics. Craig is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Sonar (like the Bloomberg terminal for logistics data) and FreightWaves, keeping people up to date on the world of trade. Like many entrepreneurs, I initially thought the trade war talk wouldn't really impact me, but a tweet from Craig about back to school orders sparked my awareness about the long lag in supply chains.


In this episode, we dive deep into why the US-China tariffs, particularly the unexpected 145% increase, are causing a slow-moving car wreck in the supply chain. We break down the complex journey a product takes from a factory in China to a US shelf, explaining the roles of manufacturers, forwarders, customs brokers, ports, bonded warehouses, and domestic logistics. We discuss the significant lag between placing orders and receiving product, why Chinese manufacturers now see US importers as credit risks, and how companies are pausing all orders leading to freight piling up and a potential wave of shortages and layoffs in industries like trucking and retail.


Craig shares his insights on the data he tracks, like container outbound shipments and domestic trucking data, showing the dramatic drop in trade volume. This conversation is crucial for any entrepreneur navigating this new, unpredictable era.


Questions This Episode Answers:

- What is the typical lag time for products moving from a factory in China to a US shelf?

- Why are the high tariffs causing potential supply chain shortages and not just higher prices?

- What happens when US importers can't afford to pay the tariffs on goods arriving from China?

- What was the de minimis exemption and why did Craig call it "the most ridiculous part of our whole trade policy"?

- What can entrepreneurs do defensively and offensively right now to navigate this trade war?


Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.

__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 The New Reality of Global Trade

03:03 Supply Chain Dynamics and Challenges

05:53 Understanding the Supply Chain Process

09:11 Tariffs and Their Impact on Business

12:02 The Role of Customs Brokers and Forwarders

14:52 The Importance of Bonded Warehouses

18:08 Current Trends and Future Predictions

20:57 The Impact on Employment and Economy

23:50 Navigating the New Trade Landscape

38:46 The Impact of Tariffs on Trade

41:04 Navigating the New Trade Landscape

43:49 Understanding the De Minimis Exemption

49:15 The Challenges of Rapid Tariff Changes

54:59 Preparing for a New Era of Trade

01:01:10 Exploring Alternative Sourcing Strategies

01:06:25 The Future of Domestic Manufacturing

01:11:34 Opportunities Amidst Chaos

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small BusinessBy Nikolas Hulewsky

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

61 ratings


More shows like Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

View all
The Side Hustle Show by Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation | YAP Media

The Side Hustle Show

1,596 Listeners

Built to Sell Radio by John Warrillow

Built to Sell Radio

210 Listeners

Founders by David Senra

Founders

1,857 Listeners

Noah Kagan Presents by Noah Kagan

Noah Kagan Presents

905 Listeners

The Home Service Expert Podcast by Tommy Mello: $200 Million Founder|Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur Columnist

The Home Service Expert Podcast

737 Listeners

The Fort by Chris Powers

The Fort

472 Listeners

The Pomp Podcast by Anthony Pompliano

The Pomp Podcast

1,829 Listeners

My First Million by Hubspot Media

My First Million

2,612 Listeners

Acquisitions Anonymous - #1 for business buying, selling and operating by Bill D'Alessandro, Mills Snell, Heather Endresen, and Michael Girdley

Acquisitions Anonymous - #1 for business buying, selling and operating

244 Listeners

Acquiring Minds by Will Smith

Acquiring Minds

242 Listeners

The UpFlip Podcast by UpFlip

The UpFlip Podcast

249 Listeners

The Startup Ideas Podcast by Greg Isenberg

The Startup Ideas Podcast

183 Listeners

OPERATORS by OPERATORS

OPERATORS

45 Listeners

The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs by Chris Koerner

The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs

138 Listeners

Moneywise by Hampton

Moneywise

646 Listeners