# Rethinking the Impact of Free Trade on American Manufacturing w/ John Gardner

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2024-08-13
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 218
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-2ef39906-8faa-4081-901d-592ea9766b3a

## Summary

John Gardner, founder of CNC Broach Tools and author of 'Manufacture Local', discusses the national security risks of offshore manufacturing and advocates for rethinking free trade policies. He argues that low tariffs and reliance on foreign supply chains, particularly from China, have eroded America's industrial base and defense capabilities. Gardner proposes using tariffs to restore volume manufacturing and eliminate income tax, while also pushing for educational reform to reintroduce shop classes and promote manufacturing careers to high school students.

## Chapters

- [0:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=37) Introduction: John Gardner and CNC Broach Tools
- [3:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=214) Gardner's Personal Journey into Manufacturing
- [9:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=550) The Product: Patented Inserted Broach Tools
- [10:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=650) Motivation for 'Manufacture Local' and Free Trade Critique
- [15:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=907) Tariffs, National Security, and Defense Industrial Base
- [21:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=1265) Economic Theory: Tariffs vs. Income Tax and Economy of Scale
- [27:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=1665) Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Rare Earth Minerals
- [35:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-08-13-rethinking-the-impact-of-free-trade-on-american-manufacturing-w-john-gardner#t=2103) Educational Reform and Promoting Manufacturing Careers

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- CNC Broach Tools (company)
- Manufacture Local (product)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Battle Electric Motors (company)
- ABB (company)
- Modern Machine Shop (other)
- Production Machining (other)
- Amazon (company)
- Barnes and Noble (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Bookshop.org (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of American Industry with Bret Boyd, CEO of Sustainment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-07-08-245-a-grassroots-approach-to-shaping-the-future-of-american-industry-with-bret-b) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Self-Protecting Data | How to Bring Back U.S. Manufacturing | Galvanized](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-04-24-self-protecting-data-how-to-bring-back-u-s-manufacturing-galvanized) (EE Times Current)
- [124: Tariff Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2025-05-08-124-tariff-talk) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [237: How Higher Education Is Shaping the Future of Manufacturing with MIT's Dr. John Liu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-05-20-237-how-higher-education-is-shaping-the-future-of-manufacturing-with-mits-dr-joh) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [043: President Trump's Proposed Trade Policies & U.S. Manufacturing, Chris Mitchell of mfg.com](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-07-043-president-trumps-proposed-trade-policies-u-s-manufacturing-chris-mitchell-of) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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