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

• 00:00 - Intro: Welcome to the Freight Buyers Club, introduction to the podcast and sponsor Dimerco Express Group
• 00:50 - Mike King’s Introduction: Overview of the episode, discussing US trade policy, container chaos, and upcoming interviews
• 01:50 - Context on US Trade Policy: Discussion of Liberation Day, tariffs, and their impact on trade from Asia to the US
• 03:50 - Transpacific Trade Rollercoaster: Analysis of container shipping market trends since Liberation Day
• 04:50 - Interview with Torsten Hartmann (Hapag-Lloyd): Senior Director of Trade Management – Transpacific discusses regulatory chaos and Gemini network
• 06:00 - Gemini Network Success: Torsten Hartmann explains the 90.9% reliability and operational discipline
• 07:00 - Customer Feedback and Contracts: Impact of reliability on customers and contracting amidst tariff volatility
• 08:00 - Peak Season and Demand: Discussion on front-loading cargo and lower demand scenarios
• 09:50 - Capacity Management: Hapag-Lloyd’s strategy of using smaller ships instead of blank sailings
• 10:50 - Port Congestion Update: Current state of Asian and North American ports
• 11:50 - 2026 Outlook: Torsten Hartmann’s thoughts on future demand and US economy concerns
• 12:00 - Sponsor Message: Dimerco Express Group advertisement
• 13:00 - Interview with Edwin Lopez (Supply Chain Dive): Managing Editor discusses covering tariff chaos
• 14:10 - Real-World Impact on Supply Chains: Edwin Lopez on tariffs, compliance costs, and volatility
• 16:10 - Front-Loading and Domestic Transport: Effects of import surges on trucking and warehousing
• 18:00 - One Big Beautiful Act: Key freight impacts from the July 4th legislation
• 19:50 - De Minimis Exemption Changes: Implications for e-tailers and supply chains by 2027
• 21:50 - Domestic Freight Market: Trucking, warehousing, and intermodal sector challenges
• 23:40 - Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger: Discussion on potential rail consolidation
• 25:50 - Interview with Susan Williams (Kalalou Inc.): Founder and SME importer shares tariff impact on her business
• 27:40 - Tariff Costs for Kalalou Inc.: Susan Williams details $435,000 in 2024 and $445,000 in 2025 ta...