Biography
David Arase is an international business strategist specializing in global trade, manufacturing networks, and supply chain strategy. His work focuses on how companies navigate tariff regimes, international sourcing structures, and cross-border market development across Asia, the United States, and Latin America. Arase has worked with organizations operating in China, Singapore, Latin America, and the United States on international market strategy, supply chain development, and trade optimization.
In China's media sector, he served as U.S. Advisor to the Beijing Headquarters of Hengdian World Studios, the world's largest film and television production complex. In this role he provided strategic insight on international market positioning and engagement with Western media companies. He later served as Chief Strategist for the United States and Latin America at Terran Pictures in Beijing, where he worked on international market development connecting Chinese production with partners and audiences across the Americas.
David also worked with Avatar Capital as Director of Cross-Border Strategy, collaborating with investment teams in Singapore and Beijing on investment initiatives and the role of private capital in developing international production and manufacturing networks. His work examined how capital flows influence emerging supply chain hubs and regional trade corridors across Asia.
In the apparel sector, David served as Executive Vice President of PPLA, a Los Angeles fashion company. In this role he focused on international sourcing, supply chain coordination, and strategic development across apparel manufacturing networks. During this period PPLA established wholesale distribution relationships with major U.S. retailers including Macy's, Nordstrom, and other national department store chains, requiring coordination of large-scale production, vendor compliance, and international retail logistics.
He also served as U.S. legal counsel to Selenium (now JBL Selenium), a Brazilian professional audio and speaker technology company, advising on legal and commercial matters related to the company's expansion into the United States and supporting cross-border commercial relationships between Brazilian manufacturing operations and U.S. partners.
A central focus of his work involves global manufacturing strategy and tariff engineering. He served as U.S. Advisor to Wood Park, a Singapore-based manufacturer with factories throughout Southeast Asia and a supplier of premium teak outdoor furniture to major United States retailers. He also served as U.S. legal counsel to Mitra Green, a U.S. importer and distributor of furniture, where he focused on international sourcing, regulatory matters, and supply chain coordination.
Through this work, David has developed expertise in tariff engineering and trade optimization, analyzing product design, sourcing structures, and manufacturing processes to manage tariff exposure and optimize customs classifications under U.S. import regulations. His work focuses on how companies restructure supply chains and production strategies in response to shifting trade policies and global manufacturing dynamics.