Navigating trade and tariffs

Utilize trade data to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape, including potential impacts and opportunities. This information can help pinpoint specific products or materials that are most susceptible to tariff increases and assess their effects on revenues, operations, and partnerships. By grasping the potential impact of tariffs on costs, companies can adopt cost-saving measures to sustain profitability.

Prioritize targeted operating outcomes to develop a response strategy model and scenario evaluation:

Diversify supply chains: By improving supply chain visibility, companies can better understand their operations and consider alternative suppliers located in countries with fewer tariffs, which can help reduce the risks of disruption. Additionally, enhancing resiliency through scenario planning and data-driven decision-making will enable proactive planning for future challenges.

Tariff exclusion process: Some tariffs allow for exclusions that fit the eligibility criteria. Companies can request exclusions for specific products, requiring detailed justifications and documentation.

Strategic transfer pricing: Transfer pricing plays a significant role in customs valuation, as it can directly impact the amount of tariffs paid. By establishing a lower transfer price, businesses may be able to reduce their tariff liabilities.

Evaluate contracts and partnerships: Conducting a thorough review of contracts related to customs duties and tariffs to understand obligations between parties can provide opportunities for cost reduction and improved compliance.

Country-of-origin rules: Assess the application of these rules in your operations.

The Canadian government introduced the tariff remission process as support for businesses impacted by tariffs. Collect the necessary information and submit an application for tariff recovery on goods imported from the U.S. for qualifying entities under the Canadian tariff remission process. These entities can recover tariffs if the goods cannot be sourced from Canada.

Access to insightful trade intelligence will be critical for businesses to stay informed and allow them to proactively adjust their strategies and operations. This monitoring will help minimize unexpected costs and disruptions, ensure compliance, and maintain competitive advantage in the global market. KPMG professionals can support with ongoing monitoring and guide you on how changes could impact your company.