Weathering the Storm of Tariffs, Rising Costs, and Other Trade Challenges

Global shippers have been navigating a stormy sea of rising costs, market uncertainty, geopolitical escalations and policy changes in 2025. And, as tariffs and international trade regulations continue to fluctuate, those rough conditions show no sign of letting up. As with many industries, international transportation and logistics seem stuck in a “new normal” where the only real constant is constant change.

How can you equip your organization to weather today’s unrelenting volatility? The most important thing you can do is adopt a new mindset—shifting from static planning cycles and manual analysis to a more dynamic, agile approach, enabled by real-time data and intelligent analysis.

Let’s face it, that international trade plan you made back in March isn’t relevant anymore. Since then, the U.S. government has made a series of eight import tariff announcements and is considering seven more. Retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports have been announced from other governments. At the same time, the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and growing tensions in the Middle East—including a U.S. military strike on Iran—are blocking trade routes, driving port congestion and increasing risks for shippers.

Over the longer term, U.S. companies with overseas operations and customers will most likely manage trade risks by diversifying their supply chains and exploring nearshoring. But that doesn’t help logistics teams right now—who need to get products moved around the world in the fastest, most profitable, fully compliant and safest way possible.

Change Happens in Real Time. Pivot in Real Time with Oracle.

In a shifting trade landscape, where conditions change minute by minute, shippers must move from a reactive stance to a more proactive, dynamic posture. That means monitoring tariffs and other regulations, shipping modes and routes, freight costs, available carriers and capacities, currency fluctuations, customs requirements, and other key factors in real time.

As a new tariff is imposed or a shipping route is blocked, transportation and logistics plans must be updated right away to reflect these changes. If not, costs and delays could cause irreversible damage to both customer relationships and profit margins.

If this sounds impossible to achieve, given your current resources, we have great news. Oracle Global Trade Management Cloud (GTM Cloud) is a purpose-built solution that ingests real-time data from across your international logistics network, flags issues, and conducts rapid analysis. Installed and launched quickly by Redwood, GTM Cloud helps you identify both regulatory and physical roadblocks that will slow your deliveries, add costs, and otherwise negatively impact your global supply chain.

Oracle GTM Cloud doesn’t just flag potential issues, it quantifies their real-world risks and impacts — then recommends an optimal course of action. It also recognizes and captures real-time opportunities, like potential cost savings and incentives.

This solution helps you replan orders and shipments, reschedule assets, update routes, and switch transport modes to maximize all your key performance metrics, from on-time in-full (OTIF) deliveries and customer-specific service-level agreements (SLAs) to sustainability.

Configurable dashboards help your team track your current performance against business targets, industry benchmarks, and forecasts. Users can navigate seamlessly between historical and current data to identify any trends, both positive and negative.

One of this powerful solution’s most valuable capabilities is forward-looking simulation. While total landed cost used to be more stable, today it’s a fast-moving target. Shippers need to not only calculate today’s cost drivers, but also predict what the future will look like.

Oracle GTM addresses this need with AI-enabled scenario planning and simulations. Before pulling an execution lever, you can see the likely result. That level of confidence has never been more important.

Redwood Gets Oracle GTM Cloud Up, Running, and Adding Value

No partner is better prepared than Redwood to configure and install Oracle GTM Cloud, integrate it into your technology architecture, train users, support cultural change, and otherwise drive a successful launch.

As a longtime member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) and an Oracle user, Redwood has a deep level of technical expertise and familiarity with Oracle software. And, as a modern 4PL, Redwood also has decades of hands-on logistics experience, hundreds of customer success stories, and a solid understanding of global trade.

From our own cross-border and international practice area to our proprietary RedwoodConnect integration platform, we have all the resources you need to quickly start generating a return on your Oracle GTM Cloud investment.

Many logistics teams still rely on manual processes and human analysis, even though they can’t accommodate today’s huge data volumes, volatile market and regulatory conditions, and supply chain complexity. Why? Because most companies lack the internal expertise and resources to fully capitalize on today’s advanced digital solutions.

From mitigating security risks to centralizing your data and optimizing your tech stack, Redwood’s team delivers the specialized knowledge you need, in a cost-effective, flexible manner that minimizes your capital investments. You can level up your trade results without leveling up your long-term staffing and other resources.

“We don’t just install technology solutions, we help customers reshape how they manage global trade at a foundational level,” says Mark Kissell, Executive Vice President of Platform Services at Redwood. “We help transform their trade performance, and increase their international logistics resilience, by giving them the visibility, control, and compliance they need to thrive—no matter what the future brings.”

Navigate the Storm of Global Trade Uncertainty, Intelligently

Together, Redwood and Oracle represent the perfect pairing: The most advanced and intelligent global trade management platform, launched with industry-leading logistics and technical expertise. It’s a combination that’s delivered proven results for shippers just like you.

For all of us working in logistics, it’s clear that 2025 represents a turning of the tides, when every international supply chain is being tested by extreme volatility. Don’t try to navigate this storm alone. Reach out to Redwood and start making your journey easier.