2026 STATE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SUPPLY CHAIN
INTERNATIONAL AND CROSS-BORDER STRATEGY IN 2026: OPERATING THROUGH UNCERTAINTY, NOT BEYOND IT
For shippers, international and cross-border freight entering 2026 does not feel stable. Tariff headlines remain. Enforcement has tightened. Landed costs remain challenging to forecast. Even where market volatility has eased, operational strain remains high.
Shippers are not planning beyond uncertainty—they are planning through it.
Real Stories, Real Tariff Navigation
Shippers like i5 Industries scaled global sourcing by pairing customs expertise with transparent cost visibility — even navigating last-minute tariff changes without disastrous penalties. Their experience shows why tariff awareness and integrated logistics execution matter.
Tariffs as a Daily Operational Strain Tariffs now represent a continuous operational burden rather than a discrete event. Classification accuracy, duty treatment, and compliance scrutiny carry real consequences, with limited tolerance for error. Delays at ports or borders can quickly cascade into downstream disruption—tying up inventory, increasing dwell, and amplifying cost exposure once freight enters domestic networks. Customs Brokerage as a Frontline Capability In this environment, customs brokerage has become a frontline control point rather than a back-office function. Effective brokerage helps shippers: • Navigate tariff classifications accurately • Reduce compliance-related holds • Maintain velocity through ports and borders • Protect inland execution from avoidable disruption
Listen and Learn: How One Shipper Navigates Tariffs
Integrated brokerage allows issues to be identified and addressed before they stall the network.
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