Beyond tariffs: A holistic approach to trade pressures
Discover how businesses can navigate rising trade tensions and shifting global policies with SAP solutions. Learn how AI, data, and connected applications help build supply chain resilience, ensure compliance, and sustain growth beyond tariff pressures. Download the DocumentBeyond tariffs:
A holistic approach
to trade pressures
Businesses must prepare for a new era of
global trade complexities beyond just tariffs.
Point of view
A holistic approach
to trade pressures
Businesses must prepare for a new era of
global trade complexities beyond just tariffs.
Point of view
2 | 16
Table of
contents
3 Looking beyond tariffs to strategic
resilience
4 Key strategies for business
resilience
Building a foundation with AI, data,
and apps
Plan for policy changes
Diversify markets and supply chains
Monitor geopolitical trends
Strengthen supply chain collaboration
and visibility
Prepare for trade countermeasures
14 The path forward: Cooperation over
division
15 Build resilience for the future of
global trade
16 About the authors
Table of
contents
3 Looking beyond tariffs to strategic
resilience
4 Key strategies for business
resilience
Building a foundation with AI, data,
and apps
Plan for policy changes
Diversify markets and supply chains
Monitor geopolitical trends
Strengthen supply chain collaboration
and visibility
Prepare for trade countermeasures
14 The path forward: Cooperation over
division
15 Build resilience for the future of
global trade
16 About the authors
3 | 16
Looking beyond tariffs to strategic resilience
As global trade tensions continue to rise, businesses must
prepare for more than just tariffs. While tariffs can affect
pricing and profitability, they are only one part of a broader
set of economic tools used in international negotiations.
Governments are increasingly using subsidies, export
restrictions, regulatory changes, and foreign investment
policies to shape trade dynamics. These measures can
disrupt supply chains, alter competitive advantages, and
require businesses to adapt quickly.
For example, new EU digital regulations can impact
American tech firms, just as U.S. subsidies for domestic
industries can shift market dynamics for European
manufacturers. Meanwhile, geopolitical developments,
such as evolving relations with China and shifts in energy
policy, further complicate trade strategies. Instead of
focusing solely on tariff rates, companies must adopt a
comprehensive approach that considers a wide range of
economic and policy shifts affecting global trade.
Looking beyond tariffs to strategic resilience
As global trade tensions continue to rise, businesses must
prepare for more than just tariffs. While tariffs can affect
pricing and profitability, they are only one part of a broader
set of economic tools used in international negotiations.
Governments are increasingly using subsidies, export
restrictions, regulatory changes, and foreign investment
policies to shape trade dynamics. These measures can
disrupt supply chains, alter competitive advantages, and
require businesses to adapt quickly.
For example, new EU digital regulations can impact
American tech firms, just as U.S. subsidies for domestic
industries can shift market dynamics for European
manufacturers. Meanwhile, geopolitical developments,
such as evolving relations with China and shifts in energy
policy, further complicate trade strategies. Instead of
focusing solely on tariff rates, companies must adopt a
comprehensive approach that considers a wide range of
economic and policy shifts affecting global trade.
4 | 16
Key strategies for business resilience
Resilient companies anticipate disruption and build agility into every aspect of their operations. By
focusing on these key strategies, businesses can better position themselves to adapt quickly, minimize
risk, and seize new opportunities amid global shifts.
Navigating today’s global trade landscape requires more
than quick fixes. Businesses need resilient strategies that
strengthen operations, open new market opportunities,
and support smarter, faster decision-making.
The following key strategies are critical for building
resilience and navigating uncertainty:
1. Plan for policy changes
2. Diversify markets and supply chains
3. Monitor geopolitical trends
4. Strengthen supply chain collaboration and visibility
5. Prepare for trade countermeasures
Key strategies for business resilience
Resilient companies anticipate disruption and build agility into every aspect of their operations. By
focusing on these key strategies, businesses can better position themselves to adapt quickly, minimize
risk, and seize new opportunities amid global shifts.
Navigating today’s global trade landscape requires more
than quick fixes. Businesses need resilient strategies that
strengthen operations, open new market opportunities,
and support smarter, faster decision-making.
The following key strategies are critical for building
resilience and navigating uncertainty:
1. Plan for policy changes
2. Diversify markets and supply chains
3. Monitor geopolitical trends
4. Strengthen supply chain collaboration and visibility
5. Prepare for trade countermeasures
5 | 16
Building a foundation with AI, data, and apps
SAP helps businesses navigate tariffs and global uncertainty through SAP Business Suite, which connects three core
strengths: AI, data, and apps. This unified platform brings together intelligence, trusted data, and modular applications so
companies can manage trade challenges with clarity, agility, and confidence.
Within this suite, SAP solutions work in sync to address key
trade scenarios. SAP Global Trade Services (GTS) and SAP
Business Network strengthen compliance and global
logistics coordination. SAP Integrated Business Planning
(IBP) and SAP Analytics Cloud use data and AI to forecast
demand, model scenarios, and guide policy adaptation.
Finally, SAP Cloud ERP unites these capabilities within
daily operations, helping businesses simplify processes,
enhance resilience, and adapt faster to change.
Building on these capabilities, SAP Supply Chain
Orchestration provides n-tier and end-to-end supply chain
visibility to enable companies to assess disruption impacts,
proposes alternative scenarios, coordinates mitigation
strategies, and ensures execution across the supply chain,
enhancing overall resilience and responsiveness.
By helping organizations pivot fast with AI-powered simulations, run lean through real-time analytics and trusted data,
and grow strong with connected applications, SAP ensures companies can anticipate disruption, respond efficiently, and
scale with confidence.
Building a foundation with AI, data, and apps
SAP helps businesses navigate tariffs and global uncertainty through SAP Business Suite, which connects three core
strengths: AI, data, and apps. This unified platform brings together intelligence, trusted data, and modular applications so
companies can manage trade challenges with clarity, agility, and confidence.
Within this suite, SAP solutions work in sync to address key
trade scenarios. SAP Global Trade Services (GTS) and SAP
Business Network strengthen compliance and global
logistics coordination. SAP Integrated Business Planning
(IBP) and SAP Analytics Cloud use data and AI to forecast
demand, model scenarios, and guide policy adaptation.
Finally, SAP Cloud ERP unites these capabilities within
daily operations, helping businesses simplify processes,
enhance resilience, and adapt faster to change.
Building on these capabilities, SAP Supply Chain
Orchestration provides n-tier and end-to-end supply chain
visibility to enable companies to assess disruption impacts,
proposes alternative scenarios, coordinates mitigation
strategies, and ensures execution across the supply chain,
enhancing overall resilience and responsiveness.
By helping organizations pivot fast with AI-powered simulations, run lean through real-time analytics and trusted data,
and grow strong with connected applications, SAP ensures companies can anticipate disruption, respond efficiently, and
scale with confidence.