Tariff Impact on Supply Chain

How supply chains can prepare for tariffs and global trade wars

Supply chains face shifts in trade policies

As new tariffs and retaliatory tariffs grow between the U.S. and its global trading partners, uncertainty around the tariff impact on supply chain networks intensifies, along with the risk of significant impacts on supply chain costs. If risk mitigations from trade policy changes are done as ad hoc endeavors, they can emphasize organizational biases and impact long-term decision making.

Global tensions heighten: The U.S increased tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion in imports from China. In response, China increased tariffs on U.S agricultural imports from 5% to 25%.

The role of supply chain leaders during this period is to become trusted advisors to the rest of the organization and lead with business continuity plans for short-term, midterm and long-term horizons.

Kamala Raman

Senior Director Analyst, Gartner Research & Advisory

Preparing your supply chain for new trade policies

While companies routinely seek to make their supply chains more competitive, very few have considered vulnerability to trade risks. The current uncertainties around tariffs offer companies that run highly agile supply chains a chance to gain a competitive advantage in the drastically changing global trade landscape. 

How to navigate tariff uncertainties.

Insights you can use

Gartner’s insights identify some of the risk management tools that supply chain leaders can use during this period of uncertainty.

Supply Chain in the Age of Trade Wars

After decades of a globalization-friendly political climate, organizations around the world are now faced with growing protectionism and an emphasis on national manufacturing policies. This global trend has found its preliminary pinnacle in the trade war between the U.S. and China.

Read Now

Build a Resilient Supply Chain Amid U.S.-China Trade War

Tariff tensions between the U.S. and China remain elevated, the result of a growing standoff involving trade, technology and defense policies. Although all industries are affected, global technology supply chains are at increased risk of fracturing.

Read Now

Define Your Risk Appetite to Create a Resilient Supply Chain

Chief procurement officers who create a comprehensive risk appetite statement will enable teams to mitigate and use risk to maximize value creation and drive business success. No risk taking equals no innovation equals loss of market share.

Read Now

Questions about becoming a Gartner client?

See the research

Uncertainties Over New Tariffs Send Supply Chain Leaders Scrambling

New trade policies and tariffs are having a ripple effect throughout the world, threatening supply chains that have been woven to function in a world of globalization. This research identifies some of the risk management tools that supply chain leaders can use.

Learn More

Scenario Planning Can Shield Your Global Supply Chain Network

CSCOs around the world must determine how to respond to potential shifts in U.S. trade policy. This research helps CSCOs, responsible for network strategy for the Americas, to evaluate contingency scenarios while continuing with business as usual.

Learn More

How Your Supply Chain Should React to Tariff Uncertainties

Uncertainty about global tariffs is likely to continue through 2019. Companies are scrambling because of the expense and time needed to reconfigure established supply chain networks. This research provides guidance for supply chain leaders considering how to respond to tariffs.

Learn More

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2019

Deliver business outcomes. Transform supply chain planning from within. Master emerging technologies.

Join us in Denver, CO, at the premier destination for supply chain planning leaders. Gartner shows you how to deliver tangible outcomes in support of business objectives and transform the planning function from within while harnessing emerging technologies to realize the value of supply chain planning. Interact with more than 400 of your peers to gain insight firsthand with three tracks on the emerging trends and latest predictions. 

Every time I come to a Gartner conference, I am inspired to not only make my company better, but to make the world better as well.

Rebecca Kirsch

Executive Director, Global Supply Chain Services, Cummins Inc.

Gartner topic experts

Gartner’s supply chain experts include more than 100 people worldwide. Meet a few of our leaders.

Kamala Raman
Senior Director Analyst,
Research & Advisory

Greg Aimi
VP, Team Manager,
Research & Advisory

Mark Atwood
Managing VP,
Research & Advisory

Simon Bailey
Senior Director Analyst,
Research & Advisory 

Miguel Cossio
Senior Principal Analyst
Research & Advisory

Paul Lord
Senior Director Analyst
Research & Advisory

Dig deeper with Gartner

Free Research

Leading Technology Trends and Initiatives From the 2019 Supply Chain Top 25

Learn more
Free Research

S&OP Maturity Assessment Planning Guide for Supply Chain Leaders

Learn more
Free Research

Follow Gartner's 4-Step Framework to Implement an Effective Supplier Relationship Management Program

Learn more
Free Research

Create a Service Mindset Within Your Supply Chain to Enhance the Customer Experience

Learn more
Free Research

Quality Management, Strategy and Leadership Primer for 2019

Learn more
Free Research

Ensure Success in Quality Management System Software Selection

Learn more

Smarter With Gartner

Article

How to Build a Supply Chain Planning Talent Strategy

Read now
Article

Outside-In: A New Mindset for Supply Chain Planning

Read now
Article

Create End-to-End Supply Chain Capabilities

Read now
Article

The 7 Dimensions of Digital Supply Chain Planning

Read now
Article

Build a Resilient Supply Chain Amid U.S.-China Trade War

Read now
Article

How to Set Up S&OE in Supply Chain Planning

Read now

Gartner’s 100+ supply chain experts are trusted, objective advisors for 2,500+ supply chain leaders and executives

Gartner helps organizations grow their internal capabilities and maintain ownership of strategic initiatives. Make the right decisions for yours with trusted insights and objective advice.