This final article in the series is about action.
We’ve covered a lot—from the historical patterns that brought us here to the emerging playbook reshaping global trade. Now it’s time to put it all to work.
The question isn’t whether trade policy will remain volatile. It will. The real question is: Will your business be ready for whatever comes next?
What We’ve Learned Along the Way
- Trade policy is now strategy. This isn’t a short-term disruption—it’s the new normal.
- The myth of free trade is over. Knowing that “free” never meant frictionless allows leaders to stop waiting and start planning.
- Adaptability wins. The companies pulling ahead aren’t just reacting to tariffs—they’re building resilience into the core of how they operate.
Your Roadmap Starts Here: Immediate Action, Not Just Planning
Speed matters. Early movers are already locking in supplier capacity, securing better pricing, and claiming “resilience” as a market differentiator. You don’t need a perfect plan—you need a fast start.
Note: These timelines should be compressed wherever possible. If you have the resources and urgency to move faster, do it. We’ve seen firsthand how acting early delivers cost advantages and strategic lift.
First 30 Days: Set Your Foundation and Make Initial Supplier Moves
1. Know Your Exposure
- Map direct and indirect supply chain links to “Bucket 3” or high-risk countries
- Include tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers—hidden risks often live downstream
- Calculate cost impact under multiple tariff scenarios
2. Review Your Contracts
- Identify force majeure, price pass-through, and renegotiation clauses
- Understand what flexibility you have—and what you don’t
3. Optimize Classifications and Origins
- Double-check HTS codes with a qualified broker
- Review country-of-origin determinations
- Identify First Sale Rule opportunities and document appropriately
4. Make Strategic Supplier Moves (Yes, in 30 Days)
- Shortlist alternative suppliers in lower-risk regions
- Start initial conversations and order placement—even if only for partial volume or backup sourcing
- Preserve key relationships while expanding options
- For critical components, begin test shipments or audits now
5. Tighten Internal Documentation
- Clean up compliance records—solid paperwork pays off under scrutiny
- Document product specs, transaction values, and origin trails now to avoid delays later
30–90 Days: Build Flexibility and Get Strategic
6. Deploy Tactical Tariff Tools
- Evaluate duty drawback if you export
- Consider bonded warehouses or FTZs for high-duty components
- Model inventory strategies for pre-announced or recurring tariff waves
- Test pricing scenarios that reflect new landed costs
7. Expand Trade Intelligence
- Build internal dashboards for exposure by country and product
- Join industry associations for shared insight
- Strengthen relationships with strategic customs brokers and legal advisors
8. Develop Pricing and Customer Plans
- Segment customers by price sensitivity
- Determine what share of tariff costs you can pass through—and where you’ll need to absorb
- Consider bundling services or tiering pricing to preserve margin
90–180 Days: Restructure, Redesign, and Reposition
9. Restructure Sourcing and Production
- Begin shifting production or assembly for high-risk SKUs
- Explore assembly in “Bucket 1” countries for tariff mitigation
- Redesign products to meet exclusion criteria or lower duty classifications
10. Build Internal Trade Capabilities
- Create a cross-functional trade strategy group
- Invest in training for compliance, sourcing, and finance teams
- Add trade as a standing item in strategic planning meetings
11. Watch and React to Competitor Weakness
- Map where your competitors are most exposed
- Time your market plays when others are adjusting prices or losing access
- Use tariff-driven dislocation to claim new share
180+ Days: Position for the Next Decade
12. Build for Strategic Agility
- Design multi-region production capabilities
- Create JVs or partnerships to shift tariff exposure
- Develop pricing models that flex as policy changes
13. Prepare for Ongoing Policy Shifts
- Model for permanent 10% tariffs—and higher for strategic rivals
- Assume volatility, not predictability
- Build resilience into your product mix, sourcing structure, and cost strategy
Getting Started: Take the First Steps Now
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the scope of what we’ve covered, you’re not alone. Every business faces unique challenges in this environment, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
Start by identifying your highest-risk exposures and building a prioritized response plan. Focus first on the moves that are both impactful and achievable with your current resources. From there, build the capabilities that will serve you long-term—regardless of how the trade winds shift.
And if you’re not sure where to start or you want validation and course corrections on work already underway I can help. I work with companies to assess tariff risk, identify high-impact responses, and build practical game plans. Sometimes a quick outside lens brings clarity that’s hard to see from the inside. Let me know if a conversation would help get things moving.
Also: I’ll be hosting a webinar in the coming weeks to walk through these strategies and offer a chance to discuss next steps in a live format. See the linked post for details once registration is live.
The businesses that thrive in the coming decade won’t be those that perfectly predict policy changes. They’ll be the ones that build adaptability into their DNA.
Trade policy is now a permanent strategic consideration. The companies that act on that reality will outperform those that don’t.
How is your organization preparing for this next era of trade uncertainty?
