Welcome to this weeks Sourcing Spotlight. We’ve got a triple-header. After criss-crossing Canada’s manufacturing heartlands, the quiet but critical role Canada plays in North American supply chains is looking far less quiet, especially as Trump’s second-term tariff machine shifts gears and puts nearshoring strategies under fresh pressure. Meanwhile, over in Washington and Beijing, the U.S.–China trade war has found a temporary pause (emphasis on temporary). Yes, some tariffs have come down, rare earth exports are back on the table, and students can dust off their U.S. visa applications, but the price tags for importers are still eye-watering. And if that wasn’t enough, the global EV supply chain is now at the centre of a mineral crunch that’s forcing everyone, from automakers to tech giants, to rewrite their sourcing playbooks before the next squeeze hits. Let’s unpack what’s moving, what’s stuck, and what your supply chain should be watching next.
We’re heading north, and then slightly south again. After two weeks travelling across Canada, it’s clear how much manufacturing muscle sits quietly behind the scenes, deeply tied into North America’s supply chains. But as Trump’s second term ramps up the pressure with new tariffs, political threats, and fresh trade risks, Canada’s long-standing role as a stable nearshoring partner is now under strain, and Illinois, its biggest US trading partner, is right in the middle of it all. Here’s what’s happening. Click here to read more.
The U.S.–China tariff war just took another turn, but don’t mistake it for a resolution. The new Trump–Xi agreement lowers tariffs slightly, unlocks rare earth exports, and reopens student visas, but leaves businesses grappling with historically high import costs and plenty of uncertainty. For retailers, suppliers, and small businesses, this is still very much a moving target. Let’s break down exactly what’s in the deal, what’s not, and where your supply chain could feel it next. Click here to read more.
Lets dive into the EV supply chain, but don’t be fooled, this isn’t just about cars. What Lucid and GM are doing right now is a textbook example of how to future-proof your supply chain in the middle of a global mineral crunch. Between new tariffs, rising prices, and raw material shortages, industries across the board are being forced to rethink how and where they source. And the smart ones? They’re locking in control before the real squeeze hits. Click here to read more.
💡 Top Sourcing Tip of the Week:
Don't just price check - SPEC CHECK! Two factories might quote similar prices, but tiny differences in materials, packaging, or testing standards can mean very different margins (or headaches) down the line.
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