1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: A lot of what next at the moment around the 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: new truck presidency. Of course, corporates here with US links 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: have a lot to try and work out. Main Freight 4 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: Managing director Don Braid to give us an insight, Don 5 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: morning to you in morning monk the broad stuff. First, 6 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: how big is your operation in the US? 7 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 2: We got nineteen hundred and fifty two people across Sadie branches. 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: We'll go close to nine hundred million US and revenue 9 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 2: this year, so. 10 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: You've got a lot of to statement. Do you see 11 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: things fundamentally changing or not? 12 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 2: In the short term, we're already seeing front loading by 13 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 2: customers around the world wanting to fill our warehouses with 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 2: product before supposed tariffs will be a plot. In the 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: long term, who knows, you know, we'll ride the wave. 16 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 2: If we get a stronger US economy, that'll be good 17 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 2: for the business within within America for US. If tariffs 18 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: are on China product, then we might see less product 19 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: moving from China to America, but we'll be there and 20 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 2: wanting to take part. 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: So your yours is an individual story. Because of course 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: we're coming at this from a New Zealand side of 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: the equation, so you would deal with Chinese product. The 24 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: argument is tariffs are about China, not about New Zealand. 25 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: Do you think that's fair? 26 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I do, although you know, all the rhetoric is 27 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 2: that he's going to apply tariffs to all imports, which 28 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 2: you know we've also got Europe to concern ourselves with 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: as well, and then does you retaliate with tariffs of 30 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: their own So that becomes a bit of a bidding war. 31 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: But for us, if you've got a stronger economy, then 32 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 2: you were likely to get more imports as a consequence. 33 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: Well, you make a very good point. I mean, we 34 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: already have a world of tariffs for goodness sake. I mean, 35 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: look look at the Brandy and the cows, and the 36 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: evs and the China and the EU at the moment. 37 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: Can you manage tariffs and simply get on with life? 38 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: They are what they are, Yeah, exactly right, And you 39 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: know they become an inflationary product for the American economy. 40 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: But you know, people still want to buy product is 41 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: not necessary, not all product that they consume as manufactured 42 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: in America. So if tariffs are applied, they'll apply the 43 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 2: price increase. 44 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: And from our point of view, how many products do 45 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: you think could stand the tariff and still do well. 46 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: See I think of top end wine, the very best 47 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,679 Speaker 1: cut of beef New York people on the Upper East 48 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: Side will pay anything in a tariff. Doesn't make any difference. 49 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: Or am I being delusional? 50 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: I think you're right. Although it's interesting. We do do 51 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: a lot of beverage and it's beverage that's pre loading 52 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: those warehouses right now, so clearly they want that product 53 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: in the market well before if there's a tariff to 54 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 2: be applied. 55 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: Give us the down braid view of the world right now. 56 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: How messy is it? 57 00:02:54,880 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: Ah? Yes, messy acause economic recessions. But it's still exciting 58 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: and we still don't business And we got up this 59 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: morning and they had an expresso. It's still fun. 60 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: You can't argue with that. I like your inside don't 61 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: break the main Freight Managing Director. 62 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 63 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: news Talks. It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 64 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.