#190 - Tariffs 2.0: Hotpot Queen, Fila Manila & Circle Beverage

The Startup CPG Podcast · 7 Apr 2025 · 41m · Episode 139

What this episode covers

Host Daniel Scharff speaks with Jia Liao of Hotpot Queen, Jake Deleon of Fila Manila, and Matt Whiteside of Circle Beverage about the impact of new tariffs on CPG brands. Jia Liao details how a 54% tariff hike on her China-manufactured Sichuan food products forced her to raise prices and absorb significant costs, while Jake Deleon explains how Fila Manila’s US-based production gives it a competitive edge over imported rivals. Matt Whiteside provides the co-packer’s perspective, noting rising equipment costs and the strategic importance of long-term partnerships amidst supply chain volatility.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 1h 11m

    124: Tariff Talk

    Myke Hurley joins hosts Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat to discuss the impact of tariffs on their business, explaining how they mitigate costs by performing final assembly and value-added machining in the US while sourcing raw metal parts from Asia. The group also covers the discontinuation of the Material Dock due to its complex, multi-supplier supply chain and low sales volume, and reviews past predictions, including a debate on whether DSLR camera sales are recovering. Finally, they discuss Studio Neat's new Pocket Notebook, highlighting its use of Colorplan paper and GeoSmyth's Abstract recycled paper, and touch on the strategic shift toward automated, AI-driven marketing.

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 23m

    EMS & The Economist - Chaos-as-a-Strategy and How Tariffs Are Changing Supply Chains (May 25)

    Shawn Dubravac, Chief Economist at IPC, joins Philip Stoten to discuss how tariff uncertainty and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the electronics manufacturing supply chain. They analyze the shift in smartphone imports from China to India, the strategic pivot toward US and Mexican manufacturing capacity, and the surge in defense spending in Europe. The conversation also highlights unprecedented AI infrastructure investments in the Gulf region and the resulting demand for power generation and PCBs.

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 14m

    EMS & The Economist Deep Dive: The Real-World Impact of Tariffs, with IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac

    Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist at IPC, discusses the real-world impact of tariffs on the electronics and automotive industries, analyzing how US and EU measures have shifted production from China to countries like Mexico, Vietnam, and Malaysia. He explains that while tariffs initially force Chinese companies to absorb costs, they ultimately lead to supply chain restructuring, with Mexico becoming a key beneficiary for flat-panel TVs and increasingly for EVs. DuBravac also explores consumer price sensitivity, generational shifts in purchasing values, and how automation in new North American factories may narrow the cost delta with Asian manufacturing.

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 17m

    EMS & The Economist - Tariffs Special - April 13th, 2025

    IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac joins host Philip Stoten to analyze the rapid evolution of US tariff policy, noting a shift from country-specific to sectorial tariffs targeting electronics regardless of origin. DuBravac explains that while the administration aims to incentivize domestic production, the reliance on imported components like PCBs means US-made goods will still face price increases. The episode highlights how this policy volatility is causing business leaders to pause investment, raising the probability of a shallow recession starting in Q3 2025. DuBravac warns that constant policy changes create uncertainty that hinders long-term supply chain planning and global trade relationships.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 15m

    Beware of the Overachievers

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss new hardware projects, including Jones's low-power lab timer using a transflective LCD and font chip, and Gammell's experience with JLC PCB's automated assembly workflow. They analyze the economic impact of tariffs on sourcing components from China versus domestic distributors, highlighting the cost advantages of JLC despite the 54% tax. The conversation also covers Gammell's stalled solar installation due to local building codes and Jones's recurring EV charging solenoid failure.

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