Nov 5, 2026 · 30 min
FedEx sees resilient trade beneath tariff uncertainty
Is Global Trade Holding Up? FedEx EVP & Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere on Tariffs, AI, & Healthcare Shipping
FedEx’s network offers a real-time view of how businesses are adapting supply chains, absorbing costs, and investing through economic uncertainty.
- 1Companies are adding capacity beyond China rather than abandoning it, reshaping trade flows across Asia and Europe.
- 2Healthcare logistics is becoming a larger growth engine as FedEx handles specialized, certified shipments worldwide.
- 3FedEx is pairing AI training for 450,000 employees with a customer-led operating model and digital transformation.
Don't miss
Brie Carere explains how FedEx is approaching AI adoption across a 450,000-person workforce, making change management as important as the technology.
The brief
FedEx functions as a bellwether for global commerce, and Brie Carere says the current picture is mixed: tariff uncertainty and fuel costs coexist with resilient demand and investment.
The company’s response is organizational as much as logistical. Carere describes integrating marketing, sales, service, and digital teams around a single question: what would the customer choose?
Trade is shifting toward “reglobalization.” Businesses are adding suppliers and manufacturing capacity beyond China, especially in Southeast Asia, while FedEx continues gaining share in Europe.
Healthcare logistics gives FedEx another growth lane, spanning medical devices, pharmaceuticals, certifications, and rising global demand for specialized shipments.
The episode’s sharpest operational challenge is scale: FedEx is trying to train 450,000 employees on AI while changing behavior across a vast, recently restructured organization.
What was said on this episode
14 statements · 12 positive · 2 negative
FedEx operates in a growing $600 billion parcel and logistics market.
“we're about a $90 billion company. We operate in a $600 billion market that is growing.”
Listen at 7:01
- Brie Carereon FedEx global air freightPositive8:10
FedEx global air freight grew 28% year over year.
“We just grew 28% year over year.”
Listen at 8:10
- Brie Carereon US reindustrializationPositive15:02
FedEx is seeing US reindustrialization in trade flows.
“we are also seeing sort of a US and re-industrialization.”
Listen at 15:02
- Brie Carereon China manufacturing relocationNegative15:23
Companies generally are not relocating manufacturing away from China.
“we are not seeing people up and leave China. That is not happening. Or it's the exception. It's not the rule.”
Listen at 15:23
- Brie Carereon China-plus-one supply-chain diversificationNegative15:40
China-plus-one diversification raises manufacturing costs.
“they are adding... more suppliers which is getting obviously costly for manufacturing”
Listen at 15:40
India is FedEx’s fastest-growing country in its network.
“manufacturing boom out of India. It is our fastest growing country in the network right now.”
Listen at 15:59
FedEx has increased European market share for 14 consecutive quarters.
“we are growing. quite well, 14 quarters of market share growth.”
Listen at 17:10
- Brie Carereon reglobalizationPositive18:12
FedEx expects reglobalization to become the new norm.
“we do think that is the new norm.”
Listen at 18:12
- Brie Carereon global supply-chain diversificationPositive18:57
Global companies will continue diversifying their supply chains.
“So you are going to see continued diversification.”
Listen at 18:57
- Brie Carereon global demand and fuel pricesPositive19:16
Rising fuel prices have not reduced global demand over two quarters.
“We have not seen demand destruction. in the last two quarters with rising fuel prices”
Listen at 19:16
- Brie Carereon FedEx peak shipping volumePositive20:40
FedEx forecasts approximately 2% year-over-year peak volume growth.
“we've got a good peak forecast coming in. We, reasonable confidence, year over year growth from a volume perspective, about 2%.”
Listen at 20:40
FedEx will return tariff refunds to applicants within 30 days.
“From the point that they do that, our goal is 30 days, and we're going to hit that 30 days to get refunds back to customers.”
Listen at 22:50
- Brie Carereon FedEx digital experiencePositive24:27
FedEx aims to lead in digital customer experience.
“We said that we would be the leader in digital experience.”
Listen at 24:27
- Brie Carereon employee tenurePositive28:59
Strong culture, rewards, and work can increase employee tenure.
“with the right culture and the right reward system and interesting work, I think people will stay longer than you think they will.”
Listen at 28:59
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
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