Looking Back: Wall Street's Role in the Offshoring Epidemic

Looking Back: Wall Street's Role in the Offshoring Epidemic

Why did America hollow out its manufacturing base—and what will it take to bring it back? In this episode of Reshoring America, I sit down with strategist, author, and former Fortune 10 advisor Saji Madapat to get a behind-the-scenes look at the boardroom decisions that led to decades of offshoring—and the blueprint for how we can rebuild. Saji brings a unique perspective: from growing up studying Marx in Kerala's classrooms, to advising Fortune 10 CEOs, to now writing The Gods Must Be Crazy II: A Rooseveltian Renaissance, which lays out a bold 10-point plan he calls the "Roosevelt Renaissance." We cover: - What really drove offshoring decisions in U.S. boardrooms - Why Wall Street's obsession with quarterly earnings created a "hunter mindset" - How China's long-term "farmer mindset" helped them dominate global supply chains - Why Washington gets U.S.–China competition wrong - The collapse of GE as a case study in America being outmaneuvered - What it means to "outsource national strategy to TikTok algorithms" - Why Saji calls this "halftime in America"—and how we can pull off a comeback Grab Saji's book here: The Gods Must Be Crazy II: A Rooseveltian Renaissance https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Must-Crazy-Rooseveltian-Renaissance-ebook/dp/B0FFX51PL3/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RIPkghf718f-MF0gJQDiUQ.ZUojrkwwgUQ_f6-dmMKAT3XZqD0MhV3HaXoha3CfmU8&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+Gods+Must+Be+Crazy+II%3A+A+Rooseveltian+Renaissance&qid=1757896619&sr=8-1 [https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Must-Crazy-Rooseveltian-Renaissance-ebook/dp/B0FFX51PL3/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RIPkghf718f-MF0gJQDiUQ.ZUojrkwwgUQ_f6-dmMKAT3XZqD0MhV3HaXoha3CfmU8&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+Gods+Must+Be+Crazy+II%3A+A+Rooseveltian+Renaissance&qid=1757896619&sr=8-1] If you care about American manufacturing, national security, or the future of small business, you'll want to hear this conversation.

Godfather of Reshoring Shares the History of Offshoring feat. Harry Moser

When you hear about companies offshoring to save costs, the story often ends there. But in this episode of Reshoring America, we go way deeper—with someone who's been leading this conversation for over a decade. Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative, joins us to unpack: * The root causes of offshoring and why so many companies moved production overseas * Who's really to blame—corporate short-termism, government policy, or both? * The evolution of the reshoring movement from 2010 to today * How policies from both the Trump and Biden administrations have affected U.S. manufacturing * What policy changes are still needed to level the playing field * Why looking only at sticker price is a mistake—and how to calculate total cost of ownership (TCO) * The role of automation and robotics in making American manufacturing competitive again * How tariffs and currency shifts affect reshoring decisions * Real-world success stories from the Reshoring Initiative—like the $60M win using the TCO calculator * Why lead times, quality, and risk are just as important as price * How the U.S. can build the skilled workforce it needs to restore domestic production * Insights from Harry's latest reshoring survey of 500+ OEMs and contract manufacturers This is a masterclass in reshoring economics, industrial policy, and what it will take to rebuild American manufacturing. Whether you're a business owner, policymaker, or just curious about the forces reshaping our economy, this episode will leave you smarter. Learn more about Harry's work at: https://reshorenow.org [https://reshorenow.org] Access the TCO Estimator: https://reshorenow.org/tco-estimator [https://reshorenow.org/tco-estimator] Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on U.S. manufacturing, reshoring, and industrial policy.

Reshore Blueprint: Real Insights from a US-based Manufacturing Business Owner

In this episode of Reshoring America, Ray Drew sits down with the owner of a CNC machine shop that's doing more than just making parts. CLN of South Florida is building the very machines other manufacturers rely on to bring production back to the U.S. We cover: - Why he's committed to manufacturing in America - How CNC automation is leveling the playing field with overseas producers - What trends he's seeing in demand for U.S.-made machines - The real challenges facing small and mid-sized manufacturers - What it will really take to make reshoring stick Whether you're a manufacturer, policymaker, or just someone who wants to see America build things again — this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

The Real Cost of Reshoring: What Small Manufacturers Need to Know feat. Rosemary Coates, founder of Reshoring Institute

In this episode of Reshoring America, I sit down with Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, to go behind the headlines and talk about the real-world reshoring decisions facing small and mid-sized manufacturers. We cover: -Why some manufacturing will never return to the U.S.—and why that's not a bad thing -How tariffs are really hitting small businesses (hint: it's not the way you think) -The hidden costs and strategic questions every SMB should ask before reshoring -Practical resources for small businesses, including MEPs and research from the Reshoring Institute Plus, Rosemary shares eye-opening stories from factory floors in China—like teenage workers on plastic stools and the 200 steps to assemble a sneaker—that show just how different the global manufacturing landscape really is. If you're a small business owner, manufacturer, or just curious about America's supply chain future, this episode will change the way you see reshoring. Explore resources and research at the Reshoring Institute: 🌐 https://reshoringinstitute.org

China Trade: $100 Billion Trade Loophole Exposed feat. Aaron Rubin, founder of ShipHero

🎧 In This Episode of Reshoring America: Aaron Rubin, founder of ShipHero—a logistics company powering $12B in e-commerce orders each year—joins the show to break down what's really going on behind the scenes of U.S. trade policy and its impact on American manufacturing. We dive deep into: -The new China deal and its hidden 30% tariff -Recently signed trade agreements (and not-so-binding letters) -The $100 billion loophole that let Chinese goods enter the U.S. duty-free -How Section 321 is quietly shaping the future of e-commerce -What it actually takes to reshore your supply chain -Why most American brands shouldn't build their own factories (and what they should do instead) -How AI is cutting warehouse costs —and changing logistics forever If you care about tariffs, reshoring, or how we rebuild American industry from the ground up, this is a must-watch. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders reshaping U.S. manufacturing.