Business, Feature, Freight News, Logistics

Tariffs, Trade Policies Shippers’ Top Risk

[ February 14, 2025   //   Gary G Burrows ]

Nearly half of shippers see shifting tariffs and trade policies as the top risks to supply chains in 2025, according to a survey from global logistics provider C.H. Robinson.
Survey results also show shippers are actively preparing for changes in tariffs and trade policy, including analyzing their existing customs data, identifying alternative suppliers, and re-evaluating their cross-border strategies.
In fact, 83 percent of respondents to the C.H. Robinson survey said finding ways to manage costs is most critical to successfully managing their supply chain.
Since tariffs could contribute to increase costs for businesses, and even potential transportation delays depending on implementation, most shippers can’t afford to simply stand by and wait to see what happens with the new China tariffs or the paused tariffs on Canada and Mexico, a company spokesperson said.
According to the survey, the top five ways that shippers are planning for changes in tariffs and trade policy are:
• Identify where they can switch sourcing to save money.
• Analyze customs data.
• Evaluate cross-border strategies.
• Run risk scenarios.
• Lower their dependence on Chinese imports.
Nearly 40 percent said they need more data and insights to find savings on tariffs and duties.
C.H. Robinson said it has been helping customers prepare for existing and pending trade policy changes by running risk scenarios, building and implementing contingency plans, engineering and executing tariff solutions, and increasing supply chain diversification and agility.
“That can be an automotive customer needing to pivot to more regional production, a retail customer rethinking inventory plans due to tariffs or an energy customer adjusting to a new regulatory environment, said Michael Castagnetto, president of North America Surface transportation for C.H. Robinson.
“Having visibility into your full supply chain is no longer a nice-to-have,” said Jordan Kass, president of C.H. Robinson Managed Solutions. “In 2025, visibility is a competitive differentiator and shippers without the technology and expertise to support real-time data and insights, contingency planning and quick action will face increased supply chain risks.”
As customers looked to frontloading as a hedge against ongoing strike and tariff threats, C.H. Robinson’s network engineers modeled costs and benefits to help them build informed and adaptable plans, which vendors, including C.H. Robinson, can then execute on their behalf, Kass said.
“In today’s uncertain shipping environment, shippers are looking for ways to reduce their susceptibility to events that impact logistics but are out of their control,” said Mike Short, president of C.H. Robinson Global Forwarding. “By diversifying their supply chains, getting access to the latest information and having a global supply chain partner able to flex with their needs at a moment’s notice, shippers can gain something they don’t always have when disruptions and policy changes occur – options.”
C.H. Robinson, which manages 37 million shipments a year for 83,000 customers and 450,000 contract carriers in its network, also offers a monthly global freight market insights report (https://tinyurl.com/46583hcc), including real-time updates.

Tags: C.H. Robinson