Global Trade

Global trade in 2025 is operating under more restrictions than at any point since the 1970s. New tariff measures, expanded sanctions programs, export control tightening on advanced technology, and forced labor import prohibitions have added compliance layers that didn't exist five years ago. The companies absorbing this the hardest are mid-size manufacturers and distributors — too large to ignore the rules, too small to have dedicated compliance teams for every jurisdiction. A product line that shipped cleanly to a distributor network in 2022 may now require export licenses, pass through additional OFAC screening, face higher tariffs, and carry UFLPA supply chain documentation requirements. We cover the current global trade compliance landscape for US companies operating across multiple markets.