Supply Chain Research

Supply Chain Edge: Polysilicon’s pricing, Thailand’s attractions, Ukraine’s robust consumers

August 14, 2026

Key findings

– August is supposed to be about vacations, but has become the month of trade policy changes. The US government’s Section 232 tariffs for polysilicon come with the new complication of price floors that, when combined with prior duties, set solar module tariffs at 105.5%. T... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: New routes, risks, and realignment after Trump-Xi summit and amid continued Middle East-driven shifts

May 21, 2026

Key findings
– The summit between US President Donald Trump and mainland Chinese President Xi Jinping lowered the temperature, not the stakes: both sides signaled a managed stabilization in ties, but the deliverables remain narrow and reversible, and see unresolved points from Taiwan to ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Focus on Thailand, list updates tweak tariffs, August seaborne imports mixed

September 12, 2025

– Thailand is strategically positioned for reshoring in Southeast Asia, with a favorable Strategic Opportunity Index score and strong trade ties through 14 bilateral agreements, including with the US and mainland China. The export-oriented economy, where electricals and electronics make up 34.... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Life after August, AGOA’s future, Apple’s US$100 problem

August 8, 2025

– The implementation of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) import duties by the US on Aug. 7 is not the end of the story for tariff uncertainty. Our analysis of the latest announcements indicates an average IEEPA duty of around 20% and looks ahead to the next steps for tariff ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Q3 outlook has conflicting decisions; US inventories rise; dull fireworks boom

June 27, 2025

• A focus on tariffs has distracted decision-makers from other disruptive challenges in supply chains, our third-quarter supply chain outlook finds, with escalations in kinetic conflicts, natural risk and trade disputes possible.
• Tariffs will still play an important role, with rulings ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Outlooks adrift, auto tariffs, congestion in Europe

March 28, 2025

– The early months of the US Trump administration have disrupted global supply chains through investigations and initial tariffs, although frequent changes and unfulfilled threats are contributing to uncertainty.
– Muted industrial activity and rising trade protectionism are expected to ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: 25 supply chain issues for 2025

December 20, 2024

– In new research this week, we identify 25 issues for supply chain decision-makers to consider in 2025, ranging from the evolution of trade rivalries (and friendships), the progress toward balance in logistics networks, the development of sustainable supply chains, the delivery of the energy ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Tariffs in many forms, chip and mineral controls, long list of global sourcing headwinds

December 6, 2024

– US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada may lead to an early renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with the US trade deficit with these countries rising to US$165.4 billion. The potential for retaliatory tariffs from ... Read more →

Avocados avoid logistical mush

March 1, 2022

Fans of guacamole, avocado toast, and cinco de mayo narrowly missed experiencing supply chain issues firsthand as the U.S. temporarily banned imports of avocadoes from Mexico. The restriction was spurred by death threats made to an on-site U.S. Agriculture inspector who among other things chec... Read more →

Yarn, wind power face new duties; olives poised to wrinkle US-EU relationship

November 30, 2021

The U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a variety of rulings in November, with polyester yarn, wind towers, and solar panels all receiving some form of additional tariff burden. The polyester yarn ruling targeted subject imports from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam that w... Read more →

Showing research about USMCA