Navigating the Trade Tempest: Strategic Adaptation in Freight Forwarding

Jeffrey Shih
(Image courtesy Dimerco Express Group)

In a time of escalating tariffs, geopolitical uncertainty, and relentless supply chain disruption, the logistics world is being turned upside down. Tariffs on Chinese imports reached as high as 245%, putting intense pressure on cost structures and forcing companies to rethink not only where they manufacture, but how they move goods globally. What we're seeing isn't a temporary storm it's a fundamental restructuring of global trade.

In this new reality, logistics providers have emerged as far more than service vendors. They are now indispensable strategic partners. The world doesn't just need another freight forwarder to move goods from A to B. The world needs a new breed of forwarder one that helps companies adapt, reconfigure, and thrive amid complexity. At Dimerco, we're stepping into that role.

A good example is Vietnam. Many companies, as part of a China +1 strategy, are moving production there. But one decision to diversify sparks a dozen more questions:

  • What are the tariff implications?
  • How is Country of Origin determined when the goods are exported from Vietnam?
  • How do you move massive production machinery across borders, especially second-hand equipment that faces regulatory scrutiny?
  • What happens if you don't yet have a legal entity in Vietnam?
  • And how do you cope with the fact that Vietnam's freight capacity is just a fraction of China's, with infrastructure challenges that impact lead times?

These are not abstract concerns. Dimerco has already helped more than a dozen clients relocate to Vietnam, managing not just the shipping, but also customs advisory, site selection, warehousing, importer of record services, and legal navigation. We do the same in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond. This is what it means to be more than a logistics provider we're on the front lines of global business transformation.

India is another hot spot. Companies are increasingly eyeing India as a cost-effective, tariff-friendly alternative to China. But India's regulatory environment is notoriously complex, with regional and national rules that don't always align. That's why one of our fastest-growing services is our "Expand to India" program, which includes not just freight and customs support, but trade compliance, legal counsel, FTZ warehousing, and guidance on government expansion incentives.

Even in the U.S., the need for strategic logistics has never been higher. Many importers are suddenly facing skyrocketing tariffs. Dimerco's customs and compliance team works with these companies to analyze trade data, calculate the financial impact, and identify proactive mitigation strategies. We even offer a free Tariff Impact Calculator to help businesses understand the stakes.

And while much has been said about e-commerce and the removal of the de minimis exemption, it's important to clarify: Dimerco's primary focus is not individual parcels. We specialize in managing high-value shipments and large-scale logistics operations air and ocean freight, cross-border solutions, and regional warehousing strategies. But changes in trade policy affect everyone, and we pay close attention to the ripple effects they cause across the entire logistics ecosystem.

Today's trade environment demands boldness, clarity, and expertise. It demands partners who don't just react but who lead. At Dimerco, we don't just move boxes. We help global businesses reimagine their supply chains and seize new opportunities. That's what the moment calls for. And that's what we deliver.

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