A company manufacturing in Asia whose products will be imported into the EU will not be directly affected by changes in US tariffs, but it may be impacted by the introduction of supply chain sustainability regulations in the EU and the need to meet new standards in its production process. Even if this company will not import the products itself into the EU and is only a supplier, it will have to provide sustainability data or other detailed information to ensure that its customer can import its products into the EU. A US-based electronics firm exporting to China may face heightened export control scrutiny and sanctions risks, whereas developments on EU sustainability rules are not relevant. A manufacturer in Mexico exporting to both the US and EU must manage origin documentation to ensure its products can benefit from preferential duty rates that follow from trade agreements. Different origin rules and requirements apply for the agreement between Mexico and the US compared to Mexico and the EU. At the same time, this manufacturer must also be prepared to provide additional information that its EU customers may need to comply with EU sustainability disclosures. A logistics service provider handling cross-border shipments for its customers may need to invest in digital systems to meet real-time reporting requirements from customs authorities, even though it is not the importer of record. Today, companies must have visibility in their end-to-end value chain and be able to rapidly communicate insights to the C-suite for strategic decision-making. Companies are dependent on accurate data, not only from within, but also from suppliers and their suppliers as well as on customers and their customers. Further, companies need to better integrate trade management into their organizational framework.Professionals working in international trade management must have multidisciplinary skills – combining legal acumen, geopolitical awareness, technological fluency and strategic foresight – to navigate a world in which trade rules are not necessarily stable, where compliance may be a moving target and where the cost of failure is higher than ever.Trade uncertainty impact on company archetypes BOX 1 Trade Compliance for Leadership: Navigating a Shifting Global Landscape 10

Trade Compliance for Leadership Navigating a Shifting Global Landscape 2025