The 2026 Thomson Reuters Global Trade Report, based on 225 trade professionals across multiple regions, finds 72% identify U.S. tariff volatility as the top regulatory challenge — up from 41% last year. Supply chain management is now the leading strategic priority (68%), nearly double last year’s 35%. With 76% viewing new U.S. tariffs as permanent, firms are restructuring sourcing (65%), renegotiating contracts (57%), and nearshoring (51%). Meanwhile, 39% absorb tariff costs — up from 13% previously — and face mounting compliance burdens, customs delays, and quality tradeoffs.
According to tax.thomsonreuters.com, the 2026 Thomson Reuters Global Trade Report reveals that 72% of trade professionals identified U.S. tariff volatility as the most impactful regulatory change — up sharply from 41% the previous year. Based on responses from 225 upper-level trade professionals across North America, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, the report documents a structural shift in global supply chain priorities driven by escalating trade policy uncertainty.
Supply Chain Disruption Takes Center Stage
Supply chain management has become the dominant strategic priority, cited by 68% of trade professionals — nearly double the 35% who ranked it top concern just one year earlier. The source states this reflects a broader redefinition of supply chain issues — including supplier reliability and customs delays — as enterprise-level risk, not just operational logistics. As one respondent observed:
“Supply chain reliability is back on the radar in a big way,”
— signaling a pivot from inventory optimization toward systemic resilience.
Tariffs Driving Cost and Compliance Pressures
The report identifies cascading effects beyond pricing: 39% of respondents report their organizations are either absorbing or considering absorbing tariff costs rather than passing them to customers — up from just 13% the previous year. Respondents overwhelmingly attribute cost increases to imported raw materials and components, squeezing manufacturing margins and export competitiveness. Further, 76% believe the new U.S. tariffs represent a permanent trade posture expected to persist for at least four years — reshaping long-term planning horizons.
Operational Responses Reshaping Global Sourcing
To mitigate tariff exposure, companies are implementing structural changes:
- Changing sourcing patterns (65%)
- Renegotiating supplier contracts (57%)
- Nearshoring or moving manufacturing back to the U.S. (51%)
One trade professional noted:
“Changes in tariffs cause uncertainty in shipping and procurement, which raises logistical costs and makes maintaining agreements with exporters more difficult.”
Others highlighted quality compromises when forced to switch suppliers for tariff reasons rather than performance criteria.
Strategic Elevation and Cross-Functional Shifts
Amid disruption, trade departments are gaining strategic influence — shifting from cost centers to business partners. The source states this elevation coincides with accelerating technology adoption, persistent talent shortages, and growing cross-functional collaboration. Notably, regulatory scrutiny has intensified: increased documentation demands, deeper verification of tariff classification and country-of-origin claims, and more frequent customs inspections are now routine. As one respondent warned:
“Project schedules are [being] impacted by the complexity and delays in regulatory compliance and customs clearance.”
Source: tax.thomsonreuters.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
