This moment in global trade is not just about policy. It is about resilience. The companies that thrive will be those who understand that agility is not reactive. It is proactive, informed, and enabled by data.At Unity, we are not in the business of predicting what the next policy will be. But we are in the business of helping teams see clearly, respond quickly, and operate with confidence no matter what the headlines say tomorrow.
In recent years, businesses have had to contend with a global economy in flux. First came the inflation surge. Then, interest rates rose, and consumer demand began to slow. These shifts hit hard, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises who often operate with tighter margins and less room for financial error.
Just as the dust seemed to settle, a new wave of uncertainty has emerged. The tariffs from President Donald Trump - 10 percent on all imports and up to 145 percent for Chinese goods - have reignited concerns about trade stability. Although there is a 90-day pause on implementation, the window is narrow. Retaliatory tariffs from the EU and China are already underway, making it clear that the cost of doing business across borders is changing.
The immediate risk is financial. Tariffs affect more than just the price tag. They alter cash flow, squeeze margins, and disrupt planning. But the deeper issue is strategic. In a landscape where rules change overnight, how do you adapt? How do you act without perfect information?
When tariffs are introduced or raised, the impact ripples across the supply chain. A business must understand more than just how much it is paying. It must dig into the variables that determine when and how tariffs apply such as shipment dates, customs entry timing, HS codes, country of origin, and valuation.
Unity helps businesses navigate this complexity with precision. Our platform connects shipment, order, and material-level data from ERPs, spreadsheets, emails, and more, giving users clear visibility into global inventory flows. Companies can pinpoint the exact tariff exposure per shipment and calculate landed cost scenarios before goods move.
It also flags potential classification and documentation risks before they become financial penalties. Inaccurate or outdated HTS codes, mismatches in declared origin, or missing valuation details can lead to overpayment or customs issues, especially when rules are changing. Unity surfaces these risks in real time, helping teams correct them early and ensure compliance downstream.
One customer used Unity to identify affected shipments, assess exposure, and adjust pricing, all within days of the new tariff announcement. They avoided weeks of guesswork and protected critical margins.
The reciprocal nature of tariffs invites a cycle of escalation. If one country imposes tariffs, others respond. Access to key markets becomes harder, shipping routes shift, and previously sound sourcing strategies may no longer work.
Unity equips businesses to rethink sourcing with clarity. Want to know if a product is single or dual sourced? Or whether it's shipping from multiple countries? Unity surfaces this information quickly, allowing teams to pivot supply strategies with confidence.
But strategic pivots require more than supplier lists, they require simulation. Unity enables scenario planning that compares landed cost, lead time, and tariff exposure across alternate sourcing geographies. One customer used this feature to evaluate the impact of moving production from China to Mexico, balancing tariff avoidance with freight cost, inventory timing, and carbon footprint all within a single view.
When supply chains are stable, businesses can run on habit. But when tariffs force route changes, delays become more common and more expensive. Every delay risks triggering unexpected duties or compliance issues.
Unity helps reduce this risk. Our platform allows companies to configure exception alerts based on dozens of shipment attributes. Whether it’s an at-risk origin-destination pair or a customs delay, teams are notified instantly.
A global shipper used Unity to set up real-time alerts for shipments affected by new tariffs. This proactive tracking enabled them to reroute goods, avoid penalties, and keep customers informed throughout.
Each change to trade policy adds another layer of paperwork and process. Teams must not only track what is happening on the ground but also update financial systems, audit trails, and compliance documentation. For many, the overhead is immense.
Unity reduces the manual burden. By syncing directly with ERP and financial systems, the platform allows teams to track duties, tariffs, and other costs with accuracy. One customer used Unity to spin up a tariff tracking dashboard in under 24 hours. Another used it to model financial impact in real time, based on predicted ship and delivery dates, giving leadership the confidence to make fast, informed decisions.
This moment in global trade is not just about policy. It is about resilience. The companies that thrive will be those who understand that agility is not reactive. It is proactive, informed, and enabled by data.
At Unity, we are not in the business of predicting what the next policy will be. But we are in the business of helping teams see clearly, respond quickly, and operate with confidence no matter what the headlines say tomorrow.
If you're facing uncertainty, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to navigate it in the dark.
