This is Episode 50 of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.

In this milestone episode, host Mike King is joined by three heavyweight shipper representatives to discuss how the world’s biggest retailers and technology companies are navigating today’s turbulent trade landscape.

Topics covered include:

Whether you’re a BCO, forwarder, or just trying to make sense of the tariff-fuelled chaos in global trade, this episode offers rare insights directly from the people buying freight at scale.

#FreightBuyersClub #OceanFreight #AirCargo #ContainerShipping #Tariffs #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #EcommerceLogistics #RetailSupplyChain #TechSupplyChain #TranspacificTrade #GlobalTrade #Logistics

Temu, Shein, and other fast-growing e-commerce giants are facing a seismic change in how they ship to U.S. consumers. In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club – produced with the support of MSC Air Cargo – host Mike King is joined by three leading voices in global logistics to unpack the end of the U.S. $800 de minimis exemption, its upcoming global suspension, and the ripple effects for air cargo, forwarders, and shippers.

Guests:

Discussion highlights:

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King speaks with Susan Williams, founder and CEO of Kalalou Inc, a Mississippi-based importer that was once a heavy shipper from China, India, Indonesia, Haiti, and more. Now, due to sweeping US tariff policies, her container volumes have nearly halved – and her company faces over $1 million in annual tariff bills.

Despite being a Trump supporter, Susan shares her growing frustration with trade policy, explains why SMEs like hers weren’t the intended target, and unveils her own profit-sharing tax credit proposal as a way to support American workers and sustain import-reliant businesses.

This is a powerful first-hand account of how logistics, supply chains, and international trade policy collide – and what one business owner is doing to push for change.

Originally featured in Episode 48 of The Freight Buyers’ Club.
️ Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. https://dimerco.com/

#Tariffs #Trump2025 #USImports #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #HomeDecorBusiness #ShippingCosts #FreightBuyersClub #LogisticsPodcast #ContainerShipping #Kalalou #MississippiBusiness #PortLogistics #SmallBusinessTariffs #USChinaTrade #Dimerco #ImportExport #USManufacturing #SupplyChainDisruption #FreightPodcast #SMElogistics

US trade policy is back in the headlines – and hitting global freight hard. In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, Mike King investigates the fallout from “Liberation Day”, tariff volatility, and the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Act” signed into law by President Trump.

We cover container shipping rate chaos, what exactly TACO means, and a bold SME shipper proposal to refund tariffs for profit-sharing companies.

️ Featured Guests:
● Torsten Hartmann, Senior Director of Trade Management – Transpacific, Hapag-Lloyd
● Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor, Supply Chain Dive (Industry Dive)
● Susan Williams, Founder, Kalalou Inc.

Topics include:
● Transpacific freight rate swings post-tariff
● SME importers facing million-dollar tariff bills
● A $200B US rail merger in the works
● Strategic carrier responses from Hapag-Lloyd
● US policy uncertainty and its impact on global supply chains

Watch more episodes at: https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefreightbuyersclub2866

In this special Freight Buyers’ Club explainer, Mike King unpacks the recent U.S. crackdown on de minimis exemptions – and why this policy change is sending shockwaves through global air cargo and e-commerce supply chains.

Joined by:

This episode covers the regulatory changes, their impact on capacity, pricing, and logistics strategy – and what freight buyers need to know to stay agile.

Supported by MSC Air Cargo – enabling independent journalism in freight.

#DeMinimis #AirCargo #FreightBuyersClub #EcommerceLogistics #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #LogisticsNews #AirFreight #FreightForwarding #GlobalTrade #DHL #MSC #Dimerco

How do you keep global trade moving when shipping lanes are under threat and borders are tightening?

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King speaks to Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding for the Middle East and Africa, inside DHL’s massive new EV logistics facility in Dubai.

Diallo reveals how DHL has responded to the Red Sea shipping crisis, is investing across the region, and has turned disruption into competitive advantage.

We cover:

Subscribe for more expert interviews from the world of global logistics and supply chain.

#DHL #logistics #redseacrisis #supplychaindisruptions #freightbuyersclub #ShippingNews #shipping #containershipping #globaltrade #AmadouDiallo #DHLForwarding #freightforwarding #aircargo

Host Mike King meets John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, inside one of the company’s cutting-edge express logistics facilities in Dubai.

Standing on-site, Pearson unpacks DHL’s €500 million investment across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, explains why he remains bullish on global trade despite growing protectionism, and dives into the e-commerce boom and the fallout from de minimis regulation changes in the U.S.

Key talking points:
DHL’s €500M strategic play in the Gulf
The real state of global trade amid U.S. retreat
️ How platforms like Temu and Shein are reshaping logistics
Why new de minimis rules are hitting China–US flows
DHL’s long-term view on infrastructure and capacity in MENA

Subscribe to Freight Buyers’ Club for insider interviews from the front lines of global supply chains.
Filmed standing at a major DHL major Dubai logistics hub

#DHL #Logistics #FreightBuyersClub #MikeKing #JohnPearson #GlobalTrade #DeMinimis #Ecommerce #UAE #SaudiArabia #SupplyChain

In this episode of The Freight Buyers Club, Mike King sits down with Vivian Brunialti, Regional Development Director for the Americas at JAS Worldwide, and Andrea Goeman, Senior Vice President for QHSE and Sustainability. They share expert insights on navigating freight challenges amid tariffs, supply chain shifts, and geopolitical uncertainty in 2025.

Discover how freight buyers can strategically manage sourcing decisions, balance air and ocean freight, and adopt nearshoring trends to mitigate risks. Andrea and Vivian also explore how sustainability and ESG goals intersect with today’s fast-moving freight market.

Key topics include:

Whether you’re a logistics leader or freight buyer, this episode offers actionable strategies to stay agile and competitive in uncertain times.

Subscribe and follow The Freight Buyers Club for the latest freight market insights and expert interviews.

https://www.youtube.com/@thefreightbuyersclub2866

https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/

Port congestion details cited in this podcast can be found here: https://www.linerlytica.com/

#FreightStrategies #SupplyChain2025 #LogisticsPodcast #Nearshoring #Sustainability #ESG #FreightBuying #JASWorldwide #SupplyChainResilience #Tariffs #LogisticsManagement

In this video explainer edition of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King brings you exclusive insights and expert interviews recorded at the 2025 ‘transport logistic’ and Air Cargo Europe event in Munich.

In less than 15 minutes, we explore the key themes shaping global freight markets — including volatile rates, emerging risks, air cargo consolidation, and automation — all through the lens of top industry voices and companies.

Featured Thought Leaders & Companies:

Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO, Hapag-Lloyd

David Shepherd, CEO, IAG Cargo

Lars Karlsson, Global Head of Trade and Customs Consulting, A.P. Møller-Maersk and former Director of the World Customs Organization (WCO)

Jan Tiedemann, Shipping Analyst at Alphaliner

Sean Dolan, CEO, NorthLink Aviation

Also featuring stories and insight from Qatar Airways Cargo, MASkargo, Xeneta, Drewry, Port of Rotterdam

Key Topics Covered:

Container Shipping: Tariff shocks, rerouting around the Red Sea, and Gemini Cooperation updates
✈️ Air Freight: The IAG-Qatar-MASkargo alliance and what it means for shippers
Robotics & Innovation: What we saw on the floor in Munich (and yes—robot dogs made an appearance)
Trade Policy: How U.S. tariffs, ESG rules, and global politics are rewriting the freight playbook
Market Outlook: Latest data on spot rate trends from Xeneta and Drewry, plus congestion updates from Europe

Whether you're a shipper, forwarder, or just trying to make sense of chaotic markets — this is your strategic briefing on what’s next.

Listen on all major podcast platforms
Watch the full video on YouTube

Supported by: Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]
Presented by: Mike King
Produced by: The Freight Buyers’ Club

#freight #logistics #shipping #aircargo #supplychain #transportlogistic #munich2025 #robots #globaltrade #tariffs #freightbuyersclub

In this exclusive Freight Buyers’ Club interview filmed at transport logistic in Munich, Mike King speaks with Lars Karlsson, Global Head of Trade and Customs Consulting at A.P. Møller-Maersk and former Director of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

Lars explains why customs is now central to supply chain strategy, how to handle tariffs and ESG-related compliance risks, and why owning your data is essential. He also shares insights on Maersk’s approach to trade disruption, and how SMEs can mitigate risk through proactive customs management.

#Maersk, #LarsKarlsson, #CustomsStrategy, #TradeCompliance, #Tariffs2025, #SupplyChainRisk, #GlobalTrade, #Logistics2025, #FreightBuyersClub, #WCO, #InternationalTrade, #CustomsConsulting, #ESGCompliance, #TradePolicy, #Transportlogistic