How tariff challenges are creating opportunities in trade

In times of disruption, organizations often discover hidden strengths. While tariff volatility has dominated headlines and created undeniable challenges for global commerce, it has also sparked a remarkable transformation: the strategic elevation of corporate trade departments.

Much like how general counsel evolved from legal gatekeepers to trusted strategic advisors over the past two decades, trade professionals are now experiencing their own moment of organizational recognition — moving from transactional executors to strategic business partners with a seat at the executive table.

This isn’t merely wishful thinking. The data tells a compelling story of opportunity amid challenge, and forward-thinking organizations are already capitalizing on this shift.

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Trade departments are gaining strategic influence amid tariff challenges

According to our 2026 Global Trade Report from the Thomson Reuters Institute, 43% of trade professionals surveyed report enhanced influence over procurement decisions, while 37% note more frequent involvement in executive decision-making, and 28% cite increased visibility of their function’s value to the organization.

These aren’t marginal improvements — they represent a fundamental revaluation of trade’s strategic importance. When survey respondents look ahead to the next 12 months, the trend accelerates: 61% foresee greater influence over procurement decisions, 56% anticipate higher recognition as strategic business partners, and 55% expect more visibility of their function’s value within their organizations.

What’s driving this elevation? The tariff environment has made one thing crystal clear to C-suite executives: trade expertise isn’t a compliance checkbox — it’s a competitive differentiator. One trade professional captured this dynamic perfectly: “The financial burden caused by tariffs led us to reorganize our supply chain and production footprint in order to reduce tariff exposure and preserve profitability.” When trade decisions directly impact profit margins, market positioning, and strategic flexibility, trade professionals naturally become strategic partners.

Collaboration breaks down organizational silos

The most tangible evidence of trade’s strategic elevation is the dramatic increase in cross-functional collaboration:

Nearly one-quarter of respondents (22%) report enhanced collaboration with other departments due to the current tariff environment.
This collaboration is substantive and strategic, not just superficial.

The most common cross-functional partnerships are:

Finance (cited by 50% of those experiencing increased collaboration): Enables modeling of profit and loss impact from different tariff scenarios for sophisticated strategic planning.
Operations (46%): Supports coordinated adjustments when disruptions occur.
IT (30%): Facilitates the technological transformation needed for data-driven decision-making.
Procurement/supply chain (30%): Enhances coordination and agility in response to supply chain challenges.

These partnerships carry significant competitive implications, positioning trade teams as key contributors to organizational strategy.

The strategic value is evident: trade professionals who understand regulatory landscapes, supply chain vulnerabilities, and global market dynamics are uniquely positioned to inform decisions across the entire organization. Forward-thinking companies are formalizing these relationships through trade risk councils and cross-functional working groups, ensuring collaboration becomes embedded in organizational governance rather than remaining ad hoc.

Organizations are investing in trade’s future

Recognition without resources rings hollow. Fortunately, organizations are backing the strategic elevation with meaningful investment. Survey respondents report increased budget allocation for hiring (43%), technology solutions (38%), and training and development (34%).

This resource commitment shows organizations view trade’s elevated role as permanent, not transient. Companies are providing trade departments with the staffing, technology, and training needed to meet expanded responsibilities and deliver strategic value. The message is clear: trade matters, and organizations are willing to invest accordingly.

Technology adoption has surged dramatically as well. Fully four-in-ten respondents (40%) say their companies are exploring emerging technologies such as AI or blockchain to better manage trade functions, compared to just 6% in 2024 — a nearly sevenfold increase. This leap reflects both the urgency of data-driven decision-making in volatile environments and the recognition that trade technology is essential for organizational effectiveness.

Solutions like Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Global Trade provide the integrated compliance platforms, regulatory content, and analytical capabilities that enable trade departments to move from reactive compliance to proactive strategic enablement.

From transactional to transformational

The most profound shift isn’t simply that trade departments have more influence — it’s that the nature of trade work itself is evolving. Organizations increasingly position their trade functions as more than administrators of transactional filings. Trade departments are now interpreting crucial regulatory structures and policies, as well as strategically anticipating new shifts and challenges. Trade is no longer a back-office function but rather a frontline risk governance function that’s become essential for nearly all aspects of an organization’s operations, management, and strategic planning.

As alluded to at the beginning of this post, this transformation parallels the journey of general counsel and legal departments. Twenty years ago, many organizations viewed legal as gatekeepers who said “no” to protect the company. Today, the best general counsel are strategic advisors who help identify opportunities while managing risk.

Trade departments are experiencing this same evolution — from enforcement and compliance to strategic partnership. They’re no longer just preventing violations; they’re protecting margins, spotting opportunities, and helping their companies compete smarter in volatile markets.

Trade professionals who embrace this strategic mindset — who proactively brief executives, translate regulatory changes into business impacts, and identify opportunities amid disruption — will cement their departments’ elevated status for years to come.

The opportunity ahead for global trade professionals

While tariff volatility will likely continue into 2026 and beyond, the current challenges present a unique opportunity to embed trade’s expanded responsibilities across the organization on an ongoing basis, while building capabilities that can provide the business with enduring resiliency and competitive advantages.

The strategic elevation of trade departments isn’t inevitable — it requires intentional effort to capitalize on organizational attention, demonstrate value, formalize collaborations, and invest in capabilities. But for trade professionals willing to seize this moment, the opportunity is substantial.

The narrative is shifting from “trade as a cost center” to “trade as a strategic partner.” From transactional execution to transformational impact. From the back office to the boardroom. The question isn’t whether this transformation will continue, but which organizations — and which trade professionals — will lead it.

Ready to explore how leading organizations are navigating this transformation?

Download the full 2026 Global Trade Report from the Thomson Reuters Institute for comprehensive insights, data, and strategies from trade professionals worldwide who are experiencing this strategic elevation firsthand.