#354 - Tariffs, Duty Drawbacks, and Building a Bulletproof Supply Chain Strategy feat. Justin Sherlock

Justin Sherlock is the co-founder and CEO of Caspian, an AI-native duty drawback platform designed to help brands navigate complex global trade and tariff environments. Prior to Caspian, Justin gained deep experience in finance and logistics at Flexport, where he led Flexport Capital, and previously had several years experience in private equity. In this episode, Justin breaks down the rapidly changing landscape of tariffs, duties, and global supply chains—especially relevant amid recent policy moves and volatile trade relations. He explains what customs brokers, tariffs, and duty drawbacks are, why these concepts matter for brands importing and exporting goods, and how most businesses are missing out on significant duty refund opportunities. Justin also offers real-world insights for DTC operators facing escalating tariffs, discusses strategies for mitigating increased costs, and shares how AI is making advanced trade advisory accessible beyond just Fortune 500 companies. Join us as a Guest on DTC POD: SUBMIT GUEST FORM HERE Apply to join our DTC Pod Slack. On this episode we cover Rising tariffs and global trade dynamics Supply chain challenges for DTC brands Role and importance of customs brokers Duty drawback: process and benefits Impact of US-China tariff escalation Technology and AI in trade compliance Strategies for brands to navigate tariffs Timestamps 03:59 From Flexport to Caspian 09:31 Customs Compliance 11:11 Understanding Tariff and Duty Classification 15:54 Trump's Tariff Strategy: A Provocative Move 18:26 Debate Over Section 321 Provision 22:46 "Supply Chain Opportunities and Challenges" 25:03 Reshoring Critical Industries Strategy 28:04 10% Tariff Impact on US Businesses 32:53 Optimizing Supply Chain and Vendor Management 36:22 Trade Predictions: Japan, Taiwan, India, Vietnam 37:52 Geopolitical Isolationism and China's Rise 41:41 "Navigating Duty Drawback Challenges" 45:07 International Pricing and Tax Strategies 48:07 Future of Supply Chain Optimization Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.   Additional episodes you might like: • #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth • #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content • #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views • #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands • #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook • ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands ----- Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further? Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you. Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox? Check out our newsletter here. Projects the DTC Pod team is working on: DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates! DTCPod Instagram DTCPod Twitter DTCPod TikTok Justin Sherlock - Founder of Caspian Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic