U.S. President Trump’s early moves revealed a more aggressive trade agenda a month into his second term at the White House.

From universal baseline tariffs to country-specific tariffs, President Trump’s far-reaching policy changes have been announced in rapid succession. 

President Trump’s return to the White House has had a  significant impact on foreign policy, big business and industry. The new changes have arguably been more momentous in comparison  up to the trade war the first Trump Administration launched eight years ago.

The majority of globally operating businesses particularly in the area of international trade are now on notice to comply with the changes. The economic implications of the Trump 2.0 tariffs in particular, are prompting global corporate action. 

Blink and you’ll miss it 

Keeping up with the Trump administration’s rapid policy developments will be challenging. The President has frequently used  unconventional channels to make announcements. The preferred platforms being his own Truth Social, X (formerly Twitter) and other non-traditional media channels.

Keeping an eye on multiple sources is key, according to Zoe Martinez, Global Trade Portfolio Lead at Thomson Reuters. Managing trade compliance across multiple jurisdictions is complex and high stakes, especially with rising tariffs and volatile changes.   

“It’s a lot to keep track of because President Trump uses a variety of less traditional channels for announcements—such as Truth Social, X (formerly Twitter), and ad hoc press conferences scheduled to cover unrelated topics,” said Zoe. 

“He [President Trump] switches up how and when he shares news – it’s truly a case of ‘blink and you miss it’.”

“It’s also not unusual for verbal or tweeted announcements to be made, but the official executive order or proclamation isn’t available right away, leaving us without the legal text for a day or so, which makes planning necessary next steps for compliance quite challenging,” said Zoe. 

Another challenge facing businesses is the short lead time. The time from signing of an Executive Order and the implementation of tariffs have been an expedited process. 

“That is, ‘if’ the implementation actually takes place at all,” added Zoe.

In the cases of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, this period was only a matter of days. Tariffs imposed on China went into effect as planned. Tariffs imposed on Mexico and Canada got a 30-day delay at the very last minute.

“The implementation timelines are often incredibly short, leaving industry and regulators scrambling to prepare for imminent changes,” said Zoe. 

“Given that these moves are part of a larger ongoing negotiation, there is a sentiment that the time and effort invested could end up being for changes that may never actually go into effect.

“The risk is that we don’t know what will ultimately happen, and the impact on businesses could be significant, potentially resulting in millions of dollars in additional tariff duties,” said Zoe. 

The 2025 tariffs represent a significant escalation. The previous Trump Administration’s additional tariffs centered on targeted commodities. Today, the tariffs apply broadly to nearly all goods from Canada, Mexico, and China.

Trump Tariffs 2.0

There have also been threats of reciprocal tariffs and further retaliation. Businesses worldwide are on notice to prepare for possible changes that could impact on operations significantly.

“Now that we’ve moved from tariff rhetoric to reality, we’ve observed many taking significant measures that were likely part of their ‘what-if’ scenario planning,” Zoe continued. 

For corporations, a single source of truth is key. Now, it’s clear that tariffs were back on the agenda for a second Trump Administration. In response, corporations have begun to prepare contingency plans.

“For instance, those with high-volume inventories of Chinese-origin goods have shifted their products from foreign trade zones into commerce to avoid the additional 10% tariffs before they took effect on the 4th of February.

“This strategy has saved millions in duties and underscores the lengths to which the industry is willing to go to adapt to tariff changes,” said Zoe. 

A single source of truth

Corporations globally have been driven to act by the Trump administration’s tariff strategies. Preparation for the magnitude and pace of the ever-changing regulations will require an accurate source.  

“The frequent changes in regulations have required us to remain agile and responsive, leading to considerable rework,” said Zoe.

“Our commitment to providing timely and accurate insights means staying alert over weekends, ready to address any updates as they arise.” 

“We’ve found ourselves working on holidays and adjusting our schedules to meet critical deadlines, sometimes at midnight,” Zoe added. 

Responding to the evolving landscape of global trade regulations, the Thomson Reuters team have significantly adapted their work patterns. 

“Despite these challenges, our team’s dedication and flexibility have been instrumental in navigating these turbulent times, ensuring our clients receive the support they need to successfully manage these changes,” Zoe concluded.

Navigate the new tariff landscape with confidence using ONESOURCE. Last year, our dedicated content analysts delivered over 100 million daily updates. Rely on the most up-to-date source of trade regulations for over 240 countries and territories. Ensure your business thrives while adapting to changing tariff regulations.

Join Thomson Reuters for an exclusive webinar, “Trump 2.0 Series Vol.2 – Reflecting on the First 30 Days,” where we delve into the significant changes President Trump implemented during his initial month in office and their substantial effects on global trade, especially in Asia and emerging markets.