Trade Compliance for Leadership Navigating a Shifting Global Landscape 2025

Foreword Boards and executive leadership must ensure that international trade management functions are adequately resourced, enabled to coordinate across departments and positioned to inform strategic decisions in the face of a rapidly transforming trade landscape. As global trade is changing non- compliance with trade rules could risk disrupting trade flows worth hundreds of billions of dollars. For companies involved in global commerce in some form, whether active across markets or with worldwide suppliers, international trade management can no longer be treated as a back- office function. It is now a strategic requirement that is essential for ensuring business continuity, managing risk and maintaining competitiveness in a more volatile world.Companies can adapt to the current trade landscape by investing in resilient trade functions, improving internal collaboration and exploring tooling and technology to meet trade obligations and mitigate risks. Those that fail to act risk falling behind, facing product delays, penalties or even exclusion from key markets. This white paper draws on insights from leading global companies through the World Economic Forum’s Trade Compliance Practitioners Group and from interviews and workshops with PwC trade compliance professionals. It offers a timely, practical guide for navigating today’s trade context. Goods and capital moving across borders need to comply with market requirements. This type of responsible trade is vital for efficient and fair economic growth.Maroun Kairouz Managing Director, Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics, World Economic ForumClaudia Buysing Damsté Partner, Customs & International Trade, PwC Netherlands Trade Compliance for Leadership: Navigating a Shifting Global LandscapeSeptember 2025 Trade Compliance for Leadership: Navigating a Shifting Global Landscape 3