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Join Renaud Anjoran, Founder & CEO of Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & Asia today!
WHO IS RENAUD?
Renaud is a French ISO 9001 & 14001 certified lead auditor, ASQ certified Quality Engineer and Quality Manager who has been working in the Chinese manufacturing industry since 2005. He is the founder of the Sofeast group that has over 200 staff globally and offers services (QA, product development & engineering, project management, Supply Chain Management, product compliance, reliability testing), contract manufacturing, and 3PL fulfillment for importers and businesses who develop their own products and buyers from China & SE Asia.
WHY LISTEN?
We‘ll discuss interesting topics for anyone who develops and sources their products from Asian suppliers and will share Renaud‘s decades of manufacturing experience, as well as inviting guests from the industry to get a different viewpoint. Our goal is to help you get better results and end up with suppliers and products that exceed your expectations!
Episodes
Friday Feb 27, 2026
Friday Feb 27, 2026
What does manufacturing in China for the U.S. really look like in 2026?
In this episode, we share the full audio from a live presentation by Fabien Gaussorgues, CEO of Agilian Technology, on the risks and opportunities facing companies that import from China into the United States.
Fabien breaks down the current tariff landscape, including recent changes, and explains why tariffs are now structural, not temporary. If you’re sourcing electronics, electromechanical products, or components from China, this is essential listening.
You’ll learn:
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How Section 301 and new reciprocal tariffs impact landed cost
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Why “China+1” isn’t as simple as shifting final assembly
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What “substantial transformation” really means under U.S. Customs rules
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The hidden cost of longer lead times and locked-up working capital
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Real-world comparisons: Shenzhen vs. Malaysia production timelines
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When U.S. or Mexico manufacturing makes economic sense
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The realistic 2026 scenario for U.S.–China trade (and why full decoupling is unlikely)
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How to design a supply chain based on total cost of ownership, not slogans
Fabien also answers audience questions on supplier diversification, automation in China, labor shifts inland, and how to think about tariff risk without overreacting.
If you’re a product company, importer, operations leader, or founder manufacturing in China, or considering moving production to Vietnam, India, Mexico, or the U.S., this episode will help you make decisions grounded in operational reality.
This is not a theory. It’s what’s happening on the ground right now.
Listen in and decide how you’ll structure your supply chain for 2026 and beyond.
Episode Sections:
- 02:42 - Manufacturing Risks and Opportunities
- 08:25 - Navigating Tariff Challenges
- 11:23 - China Plus One Strategy
- 13:20 - Substantial Transformation Explained
- 15:06 - Final Assembly Considerations
- 21:13 - Moving Production Out of China
- 22:32 - Risks of Full Decoupling
- 25:19 - Key Takeaways for Businesses
- 28:07 - Audience Questions and Insights
- 53:52 - Closing Remarks and Future Insights
Related content…
This episode is brought to you by The Sofeast Group and includes links in the show notes to our blog posts and resources, and recommended books. For help with manufacturing in Asia, inspections, auditing, new product development, contract manufacturing, 3PL warehousing and fulfillment, visit sofeast.com.
Get in touch with us
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- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
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