If you’ve watched the news lately, you know that tariff uncertainty is looming and ongoing. Business owners and supply chain leaders know the ripple effects all too well.

As new trade measures take shape and global tensions remain high, companies that rely on international suppliers are facing difficult questions: How do we absorb rising costs? What happens if a key material becomes restricted? And how do we plan for what’s next when policies keep shifting?

But tariffs are only part of the story. Sanctions, countersanctions, and financial restrictions are also putting pressure on procurement, production, and compliance efforts—especially for businesses with global footprints.

So, what’s the difference between a tariff and a sanction? And more importantly, how should your organization prepare for both?

Our latest white paper, Navigating Tariffs and Sanctions in Your Supply Chain, explores the challenges—and solutions—for navigating today’s trade landscape.

Tariffs: Looming uncertainty with rising costs

Tariffs are imposed to protect domestic industries or respond to trade disputes. But for businesses, they often create higher input costs and logistical headaches.

One example: steel and aluminum imported from Canada. These materials are essential to the U.S. automotive industry. When tariffs are applied, vehicle and replacement part costs rise—unless domestic suppliers can ramp up quickly, which may take months or years.

Or take something as simple as avocados. A bag that once cost $6 might now run $10—not because of scarcity, but due to new U.S. tariffs on goods from Mexico. That same pattern plays out across raw materials, consumer goods, and industrial parts, creating ripple effects across entire supply chains.

Sanctions are restrictions. And they come with even more complexity.

Sanctions are often politically motivated and target specific countries, entities, or sectors. Unlike tariffs, they can restrict access to materials, technologies, or entire markets.

Sanctions against China, for example, have disrupted access to critical components like semiconductors. They’ve also created compliance and financial hurdles, limiting U.S. companies’ ability to operate in one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

The challenges go beyond sourcing. Sanctions can affect your ability to process payments, access banking systems, or work with third parties in affected regions—all of which increase administrative burden and operational risk.

Corbus capabilities: Real solutions for real supply chain pressure

At Corbus, we’ve been helping global companies navigate complex supply chains for over 25 years. Our supply chain experts support clients across industries like aviation, manufacturing, oil and gas, and technology—delivering real results through both strategy and execution.

Here’s how we help:

1. Supply chain transformation focused on the cash conversion cycle

We take a practical, performance-driven approach to supply chain transformation. Our solutions are designed to directly influence financial metrics like:

By optimizing these key elements, we help companies improve liquidity, reduce carrying costs, and create a more agile supply chain.

2. Greenfield and brownfield project support

Tariffs often prompt companies to shift production to new regions. Corbus supports both greenfield (brand-new operations) and brownfield (modifying existing facilities) projects through:

• Project management to ensure smooth transitions
• Supply chain expertise, from sourcing to logistics
• Training and documentation for new or adapted systems

We’ve helped companies establish entirely new operations or transition current suppliers with minimal disruption and lasting results.

3. Cost and lead time optimization through engineering

We work closely with R&D, sourcing, and supplier teams to:

• Analyze manufacturability and cost
• Shorten lead times
• Identify opportunities for savings
• Streamline collaboration across the supply chain

4. Supplier development and transition management

In one recent engagement, Corbus vetted and transitioned suppliers across China, Taiwan, India, and Europe for a client needing increased capacity and cost reduction. The results:

These outcomes are possible because Corbus focuses not just on strategy, but on execution—ensuring every change is implemented without sacrificing business continuity.

The white paper offers in-depth information on:

• The difference between tariffs, sanctions, and countersanctions
• Real life examples, like avocado pricing and steel supply disruptions
• The hidden costs of compliance, financial restrictions, and supplier risk
• How Corbus supports end-to-end supply chain resilience with execution-based services.

To explore the importance of tariffs and sanctions and learn key strategies you can consider for your organization, download our white paper Navigating Tariffs and Sanctions in Your Supply Chain.