Ep. 11 Navigating the Trade War: How Trump's Tariffs on China Impact A Sichuan Pepper Import Business

Apr 21, 2025

31:26

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Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Yao Zhao, founder of 50 Hertz Tingly Foods and a former World Bank clean energy specialist, about the impact of tariffs on his Sichuan pepper-infused food and beverage import business. Yao discusses launching his company during the COVID-19 pandemic, preparing for potential Trump 2.0 tariffs, managing cash flow amid rising costs, and the significance of supplier relationships. The conversation also covers consumer engagement, cost mitigation strategies, and Yao's exploration of alternative markets in response to the evolving trade dynamics between the US and China.

Yao is on a mission to introduce Sichuan pepper from his hometown in China to the world. He believes that this trade war will push China to move up the value chain, to expedite its transition from an export-oriented to a domestic consumption-oriented economy, and to reconsider its relationship with Europe and other countries.