Tariffs didn’t bring manufacturing jobs back to the US
Summary
Eli Patel interviews Altana CEO Evan Smith about how agentic AI is transforming global supply chain management amid escalating trade chaos and tariffs. Smith explains that while tariffs have not reshored manufacturing jobs, they have rerouted Chinese goods through third-party countries, with automation driving increased output. The discussion covers Altana’s use of AI to automate customs compliance, manage "data pathologies," and create digital product passports for better trade visibility.
Topics discussed
Intro: Altana, trade data, and agentic AI
Trade dislocation as an index bet and geopolitical shifts
Altana's network model and AI-driven product development
AI token costs, pricing models, and the Servo acquisition
Customs automation, SOPs, and supply chain visibility
Manufacturing reshoring, tariffs, and drone dominance
De minimis loopholes and Canada-US trade tensions
Economic choke points, network effects, and future outlook
Listen ad-free on Castria