# 043: President Trump's Proposed Trade Policies & U.S. Manufacturing, Chris Mitchell of mfg.com

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2017-03-07
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of
- Listen: https://theproductstartup.com/043-manufacturing-president-trump-chris-mitchell-mfg-com/

## Summary

Chris Mitchell, President of mfg.com, discusses the findings of a survey on how President Trump's proposed trade policies affect U.S. manufacturing, highlighting a divide between buyers who would source from other low-cost countries and suppliers who believe tariffs would bring jobs back to the U.S. He details the operational mechanics of the mfg.com marketplace, explaining how it connects buyers with job shops through Request for Quotes (RFQs) and emphasizes the importance of clear, fully dimensional CAD drawings to ensure accurate pricing. The conversation covers the risks of international sourcing, such as prepayment issues and cultural differences, and offers best practices for creating effective RFQs to avoid being labeled as a 'door knocker.'

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of#t=0) Introduction: Chris Mitchell and mfg.com
- [3:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of#t=237) Survey Findings: Trump's Trade Policies and Manufacturing
- [16:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of#t=975) Automation, Labor Costs, and Global Competition
- [24:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of#t=1487) The RFQ Process: Drawings, Tolerances, and Matching
- [30:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of#t=1843) Design for Manufacturing and Supplier Communication
- [37:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of#t=2243) Payment, Recourse, and International Sourcing Risks
- [40:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of#t=2406) Buyer Award Ratios and Platform Transparency

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- mfg.com (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- NAFTA (other)
- TPP (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [124: Tariff Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2025-05-08-124-tariff-talk) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Matchmaking Supply and Demand for Parts Manufacturing w/ Markus Seibold](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-10-15-matchmaking-supply-and-demand-for-parts-manufacturing-w-markus-seibold) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Bring 5 Million Manufacturing Jobs Back to the U.S. w/ Harry Moser](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-01-bring-5-million-manufacturing-jobs-back-to-the-u-s-w-harry-moser) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Rethinking the Impact of Free Trade on American Manufacturing w/ John Gardner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Tariffs and Trade: EMS & The Economist on Global Manufacturing's Future Amid Political Shifts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-02-05-tariffs-and-trade-ems-the-economist-on-global-manufacturings-future-amid-politic) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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