aware of political discussions and how they materialize in operational decision- making, says Constantin Blome, chaired professor for Transformative Innovation and director, Center for Transformative Innovation at the S tockholm School of Economics. 11. Scrutinize Product Exemptions. Tariff agreements often include lists of product exemptions, Mani says. Several factors generally drive exemption decisions. One is a country’s national interests. In the United States, products considered important to maintaining the American economy, such as those used in the aerospace industry, tend to qualify for exemptions. Industries favored by the administration in power also are more likely to gain exemptions. Currently, this includes sectors of the tech industry. By understanding the factors likely to drive tariff plans, supply chain organizations can better forecast how their products are likely to be impacted and plan accordingly. 12. Consider Customer Expectations. Given several years of ongoing supply chain disruptions, many consumers and businesses view
as some others. As AI continues to evolve, the learning curve for use and deployment will become steeper. “I recommend that businesses start investing in these technologies now, while there is still room to make mistakes and learn from them,” says Vidya Mani, Ph.D., associate professor of business administration at the University of Virginia. Acting now will help position organizations for any turbulence ahead. 9. Boost Visibility with Technology. With tariff pressures expected to continue, organizations need to adopt advanced visibility and risk management tools. “Shippers who embrace AI-powered solutions can mitigate short-term disruptions and long-term structural inefficiencies,” says Michael Britton, head of North America market, ocean products with Maersk. Those who delay taking steps risk falling behind. Visibility platforms powered by AI can help shippers overcome disruptions by integrating first-party operational data with third-party sources to create a unified, end-to-end view of the supply chain, Britton says. Maersk found that collecting information and providing visibility from multiple platforms, and then triangulating the data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timeliness for every shipment, allows for better inventory planning, smoother production, and reduced exposure to penalties, he adds. Some AI tools can also anticipate risks, such as port congestion or terminal delays, and provide early warnings, so shippers can reroute or adjust their schedules, Britton says. Solutions that offer dynamic demurrage and detention updates can help shippers better plan pickups, storage, or contract changes, so they can minimize unnecessary costs. 10. Monitor the Geopolitical Environment. Political considerations can influence the regulations that impact global trade. Companies in impacted industries should remain
delays as a regular part of business, Mani says. As a result, shippers generally should take a conservative approach when considering major investments in capacity expansions. 13. Connect Disparate Solutions. When technology solutions are siloed—say, warehouse management versus order management versus transportation management— decision-making is often siloed as well. That boosts the likelihood that decisions are optimized for one process but not an entire operation, says Ann Marie Jonkman, vice president, global industry strategies with Blue Yonder. Technology platforms can bring together disparate systems so an organization can identify the impact of a decision on all operations. For instance, say a manufacturer has orders shipping to various retail stores, and learns that the inbound transportation needed to fulfill these orders is delayed. The impact of any decision, such as keeping workers overtime until trucks arrive or prioritizing the stores that will be the first to receive products, will ripple to multiple areas.
Most Impactful Regulatory & Customs Systems Changes
U.S. Tariff Volatility (IEEPA 232, 301 and Retaliatory Tariffs Export Controls Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Corporate Transparency Act De Minimis Ban U.S. Data Residency Requirements, i.e., China U.S. Section 301 Maritime Service Fees EU Digital Product Passport Sanctions–Russia Modernized PEM Rules Sanctions–Other EU PFAS Regulations
72%
54%
53%
49%
45%
44%
38%
34%
24%
Tariff volatility has emerged as the most significant regulatory concern for global trade professionals. In a Thomson Reuters survey, 72% rank U.S. tariffs as the most impactful change—up sharply from 41% last year—far exceeding any other regulatory issue and dominating the focus of corporate trade teams.
23%
21%
20%
19%
Critical Minerals Sanctions–Syria None of These
8%
0.5%
Source: Thomson Reuters 2026 Global Trade Report
March 2026 • Inbound Logistics 27
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