Analysts and logistics professionals say the industry\u2019s response to the new tariffs will be much the same as it\u2019s been since the administration began its trade war earlier this year: To develop resilient but agile supply chains.<\/p>\n
\u201cTariffs have reshaped how companies approach supply chain planning and global sourcing,\u201d Mike Short, president of global forwarding for logistics services provider C.H. Robinson<\/a> said in an email Friday. \u201cThe conversation has evolved beyond a simple \u2018China +1\u2019 or \u2018+2\u2019 diversification model. What we\u2019re seeing now is a more intentional, tiered sourcing hierarchy that prioritizes geopolitical stability, business continuity, and cost efficiency.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re working closely with customers to reassess their entire supply chain architecture\u2014from sourcing origins to downstream logistics, port selection, and even last-mile delivery. While diversification isn\u2019t a new concept, the urgency and scale at which it\u2019s happening is. Shippers are now laser-focused on building supply chains that are not only resilient but also agile and adaptable. This level of strategic planning is becoming the new standard.\u201d<\/p>\n Gemma Thompson, senior consultant at supply chain and procurement consultancy Proxima <\/a>agreed, adding that the latest round of tariffs increases cost pressures across global supply chains and reinforces the need for companies to build agility into their supply chains.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile trends like nearshoring and \u2018plus +1\u2019 strategies were already in motion, this adds new urgency,\u201d Thompson said in an email. \u201cHigh tariffs don\u2019t just mean increased costs, they also introduce continuity risks as businesses re-evaluate their supplier relationships. Mexico\u2019s 90-day negotiation window may make it an even more attractive alternative, but companies must understand their full supply chain exposure before making a shift, especially upstream, where rules of origin could still trigger unexpected liabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Logistics services providers are urging shippers to work with their supply chain partners to stay ahead of pending deadlines.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that tariffs are taking effect, timing is everything. We\u2019re urging shippers to lock in production schedules, push factories to hit cargo\u2011ready dates, and get goods moving before higher rates cascade through the system,\u201d according to Zeid Houssami, senior vice president and global head of freight forwarding for Uber Freight<\/a>. \u201cOn Asia-U.S. trade lanes, we\u2019re also recommending shippers consider alternate routings or consolidations to control costs. Uber Freight is working shoulder\u2011to\u2011shoulder with customers to model different tariff scenarios and execute quickly so they can stay ahead of whatever comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n