Five Best Practices to Reduce U.S. Importer Tariff Exposure
U.S. importing companies and their trade compliance teams must implement proactive tariff mitigation steps to reduce landed costs and avoid compliance penalties amid ongoing tariff volatility.
Foley & Lardner’s guidance outlines five proactive best practices for U.S. importers navigating ongoing tariff volatility that drives unpredictable landed costs and supply chain disruptions. The recommended steps include auditing core customs determinations (tariff classification, valuation, country of origin) for accuracy, identifying the most tariff-sensitive products and supplier relationships, evaluating eligibility for duty-saving programs such as foreign-trade zones or duty drawback, reviewing commercial contracts for clear tariff cost allocation terms, and building a cross-functional escalation process for new tariff announcements. These measures help companies shift from reactive tariff response to deliberate risk reduction, minimizing exposure to overpaid duties, unexpected cost increases, and customs audit penalties.