C.H. Robinson has launched a new analysis tool to help U.S. customs brokerage customers measure the impact of tariffs on their imports and make more informed sourcing decisions. The tool, embedded within the company’s global shipper platform, aims to provide a clearer picture of landed costs as trade policies continue to shift.
Shippers Grapple with Rising Tariff Complexity
In recent months, shifting trade policies have added new layers of complexity to global sourcing decisions. U.S. tariffs imposed in response to perceived trade imbalances, national security concerns, and reciprocal actions against trading partners have become an ongoing factor in import cost structures. This has left many businesses rethinking their approach to procurement and logistics. According to the 2025 C.H. Robinson customer research study, over one third of shippers say they lack adequate data to manage these costs, up from last year’s figures.
The company’s new tool responds to this shift by giving shippers a way to quantify these costs and scenario-plan in real time. “Whether they’re rerouting freight, consolidating entries, or rethinking supplier relationships, we’re providing the insights they need to act quickly and decisively,” said Mike Short, President of Global Forwarding at C.H. Robinson in an official statement.
For a national retailer, that might mean quickly pinpointing high-volume SKUs from a single origin and evaluating the tariff impact of alternative sourcing. This level of analysis, once limited to labor-intensive consulting work, is now accessible directly within the platform’s self-serve environment.
Operational Agility in a Volatile Trade Climate
Beyond the immediate cost pressures, the new tool signals a deeper change in how supply chains respond to trade uncertainty. Tariffs, once seen as static or cyclical adjustments, have become permanent variables in the cost equation. For shippers, the challenge is no longer just about minimizing exposure, it’s about maintaining operational agility.
The self-serve tool is designed to give shippers that agility. By offering real-time data on duty spend and alternative sourcing scenarios, it allows leaders to move away from purely reactive decisions. It also levels the playing field, enabling smaller businesses to access the same depth of analysis previously available only through expensive consulting work.
Turning Data into Actionable Strategy
C.H. Robinson’s new tariff tool arrives at a critical juncture for supply chain leaders. In a climate where tariff policy can swing overnight, operational resilience depends on more than just knowing the numbers, it’s about turning those insights into a strategic edge. As supply chain leaders weigh the impact of shifting trade rules, tools like these can be pivotal in transforming reactive decisions into proactive planning, ultimately redefining how businesses adapt to uncertainty.
