How Auto Importers Can Navigate the New U.S. Tariff Landscape with Confidence

‍A Tariff Shockwave Hits the Automotive Sector

It’s a Monday morning, and the inbox is stacked. Procurement teams are flagging unexpected complications in supplier invoices. Customs brokers are demanding more extensive documentation. And U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has just detained a high-value automotive component due to an unverified origin claim. Sound familiar? For anyone importing automotive parts into the U.S., this disruption is no longer the exception—it’s the norm.

With sweeping executive actions introducing reciprocal tariffs and duties targeting low-value imports linked to fentanyl from China, coupled with expanded authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and new controls on vehicle and parts imports, the U.S. trade environment has reached unprecedented levels of complexity. For the automotive industry—characterized by intricate, global supply chains—legacy processes and siloed data sources are no longer sufficient.

A recent Wall Street Journal video on this topic highlights the impact on the automotive sector. One of Tradeverifyd’s partners, AlixPartners, shares key insights in the piece—echoing what we observe daily: supply chain leaders are being forced to adapt at speed.

That’s where Tradeverifyd comes in.

The Core Challenge: Limited Visibility Beyond Tier 1

Most automotive importers think they know their suppliers. In reality, visibility tends to stop at the Tier 1 level—and even that view is often incomplete. Industry-wide assessments reveal that most companies can see only 70 to 85 percent of their Tier 1 supplier base. But when it comes to tariffs, it’s the location of the critical transformation that defines origin—not just where your direct supplier is based.

This lack of deeper insight creates significant exposure. Whether calculating duties, qualifying for preferential treatment under agreements like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), or responding to CBP detentions, the burden of proof rests squarely with the importer. And lack of knowledge is not a defensible position.

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A New Model: Collaborative, Verifiable Supply Chain Intelligence

Tradeverifyd delivers the first supply chain intelligence platform purpose-built for the realities of modern tariff enforcement. Funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) and built in collaboration with CBP, Tradeverifyd’s platform is tested and proven in high-enforcement industries like steel, agriculture, semiconductors, apparel, and even e-commerce parcels.

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Here’s how Tradeverifyd supports proactive import compliance for automotive companies:

N-Tier Mapping and Credentialing
Tradeverifyd enables true n-tier supplier visibility by working directly with upstream suppliers to credential participants, capturing origin data, transformation steps, and ownership changes at the source. For example, when importing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), Tradeverifyd traces the cathode material back to the precise chemical transformation point—defining its tariff eligibility.

‍Evidence-Based Origin Substantiation
The platform collects structured, verifiable evidence of origin—ranging from transformation documentation to bill of materials lineage and, where relevant, geolocation metadata.
This is exactly the type of documentation CBP requires in audits and detentions. If a brake system assembly is flagged at the port, Tradeverifyd helps resolve the issue in hours—not weeks.

Proactive Risk Flagging and Supplier Optimization
Tradeverifyd’s analytics engine surfaces products in a catalog that carry tariff risk based on origin exposure. Procurement officers can take targeted action, such as renegotiating contracts or switching suppliers for the 15% of parts most vulnerable to new reciprocal tariffs or IEEPA-linked duties.

Preferential Tariff Optimization
The platform also identifies products that qualify for preferential treatment under agreements like USMCA but are not currently claiming it due to incomplete substantiation.
For instance, if a U.S. assembler is sourcing transmission components from North America, Tradeverifyd helps verify sufficient regional value content (RVC), unlocking valuable savings.

Single Interface, All Regulations
From reciprocal tariffs and fentanyl-linked IEEPA duties to vehicle import restrictions, Tradeverifyd centralizes regulatory data, country-specific treatments, foreign subsidy declarations, and rule-of-origin criteria into a unified dashboard.

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Why Acting Now Is Essential

This is no longer just a compliance issue—it’s a business continuity imperative.

CBP has moved from reactive inspections to proactive, digital screening. Executive orders now allow for same-day announcements and immediate enforcement. Importers must be ready to respond with credible, verifiable proof—on demand.

Automotive parts importers are particularly exposed. New vehicle import controls demand early-stage documentation on ownership and origin. CBP is already using Tradeverifyd’s credentialing tools in enforcement for other sectors—automotive is next.

Importers can no longer rely on declarations alone. CBP now expects documented proof—and only a digital, auditable system of record can provide it.

Case Example: Steering Columns and Strategic Response

Consider an importer of steering columns used in mid-size sedans. The Tier 1 supplier is in Mexico, and the product was previously claimed under USMCA.

When CBP flags a shipment for review, it’s revealed that a key steel component originated from a Tier 3 supplier in China, with no qualifying transformation in North America. The USMCA claim is rejected. Duties increase by 25%, and the importer is flagged for audit.

With Tradeverifyd, this scenario changes dramatically:

• Origin risk would have been identified through supplier mapping
• Steel sourcing could have been redirected to a compliant Canadian supplier
• The transformation step in Mexico could have been verified
• Preferential treatment under USMCA could have been claimed with confidence
  
  

The Bottom Line: Visibility Powers Strategic Decision-Making

Tradeverifyd turns opaque, reactive processes into strategic clarity. Our clients gain:

• Higher confidence in tariff calculations
• Rapid response capabilities for CBP audits
• Flexibility to adapt suppliers based on risk
• Reduced audit frequency and detention incidents
• Cost savings through accurate preferential duty claims
  
  

Don’t Wait for the Next Detention Notice

For automotive procurement and compliance teams, now is the time to act. Tariff enforcement is tightening, and the tools to manage it already exist.

Contact us to schedule a tailored walkthrough. See how Tradeverifyd can map your supply chain beyond Tier 2, substantiate origin claims, and transform today’s trade chaos into tomorrow’s strategic advantage.

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Your supply chain is global. Your enforcement risk is real. Your response must be verifiable.

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About the Author

Karyl Fowler is the Chief Policy Officer at Tradeverifyd, leading the company’s work on modern trade enforcement, government partnerships, and regulatory readiness. She has testified before Congress and advises public and private stakeholders on emerging enforcement technologies.

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