Welcome to this week’s Sourcing Spotlight.
In this weeks edition, Beijing is pausing Nvidia H200 orders until it can set its own conditions, Venezuela’s shake up is already adding a compliance friction tax to shipping most visibly in tankers, and the US has merely pushed the next Section 232 wood products tariff step to 1 January 2027 so 2026 is your planning window.
Feature Story
China Pauses Nvidia H200 Orders as AI Chip Rules Tighten
China is reportedly telling some major tech firms to pause Nvidia H200 purchases, even though the U.S. has started approving exports again. This looks less like a dramatic ban and more like Beijing holding the door shut until it can set its own terms, potentially linking any H200 access to mandatory domestic chip purchases. For brands and operators using China based cloud and AI tooling, the takeaway is simple: advanced compute is becoming policy managed capacity, not a normal commodity. Expect stop start availability, conditional approvals, and more hedging towards local silicon even when imported performance is still preferred.
Venezuela Takeover: Early Shipping Impacts and Supply Chain Risk Signals
Venezuela’s political shake up is already showing up in shipping behaviour, even if container networks have not melted down. The clearest signal is on tankers: Venezuelan crude flows to Asia have reportedly paused in early 2026, seaborne exports dropped sharply in December, and US enforcement is now directly touching vessels, which tends to trigger a wider compliance chill across insurers, banks, and shipowners. Container impact looks more localised, with Venezuelan port disruption creating delays for that trade lane, while major carriers signal broader operations remain steady. The real supply chain risk for most brands is the friction tax: tighter screening, slower approvals, more conservative routing, and surprise surcharges that land in packaging, plastics, synthetics, and freight sensitive goods before you ever see a dramatic headline price move.
US Wood Products Section 232 Tariffs Delayed
The White House has delayed the next step up in Section 232 tariffs on certain upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities. The increase that was due on 1 January 2026 is now pushed to 1 January 2027, while the existing 25 percent duty stays in place through 2026. For small brands, this is not a repeal, it is a rescheduled deadline. Treat 2026 as your planning window: rebuild landed cost scenarios for both the current rate and the potential 2027 uplift, tighten tariff change language in contracts, and clean up HTS mapping where mixed materials and modular formats can trigger surprises. The policy direction is still clear. Wood product supply chains are being pulled into the same strategic bucket as other Section 232 categories, with tariffs used as leverage while negotiations continue.
Archived Articles
DISCOVER OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLES….
From new AI concepts that could benefit you, to new technologies and strategies to navigate the current global economy. Read through for impactful resources to help you become proactive in your business.
How Stoke-on-Trent Kept Britain’s Ceramics Alive & What Can We Learn From It.
Walmart is using AI tool Pactum to negotiate with suppliers, and 85% prefer it to a human.
As tariffs escalate, Illinois finds itself caught in the crossfire. From manufacturing supply chains tied to Canada and Mexico, to billions in farm exports now facing retaliation
That’s it for this weeks Sourcing Spotlight.
Stay ahead of the curve by following us daily on Instagram at @lois_thesourcingspotlight for fresh updates. Craving deeper insights? Dive into exclusive, in-depth analysis with our premium subscription, just $9.99 a month, and the first month is on us! Get all your most important small business news in one place, helping you navigate information effortlessly with actionable and insightful updates.
This Newsletter is sponsored by
Unlock the most powerful, structured system for Amazon success. With over 10 years of operating experience, billions in collective private label sales, and insights from thousands of top-performing sellers, we’ve engineered a clear roadmap for profitable growth. Our proven tools, strategies, and community provide everything you need to scale faster, smarter, and more confidently—without the guesswork.
Until next time,
Quiet sourcing. Loud impact.
