Welcome to this week’s Sourcing Spotlight.
This week signals another major shift in global sourcing. President Trump’s Truth Social post hinting at a 100% tariff on Chinese imports - still unconfirmed by the White House - has reignited trade tensions and pushed brands to ship early. At the same time, Apple’s record $600 billion U.S. investment underscores a move toward localisation and tariff resilience, while India’s sweeping electricity reforms aim to stabilise power and attract more manufacturing. Together, these developments show the supply chain is being redrawn once again - around politics, energy, and production sovereignty.
Feature Story
Trump Announces 100% Tariff on Chinese Imports
President Trump announced on Truth Social that the United States will impose an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese imports from 1 November 2025 - a statement that’s sent importers, freight forwarders, and suppliers into overdrive.
However, despite widespread media coverage, no official confirmation has yet been issued by the White House, and no executive order or Federal Register notice has been published. For now, this remains speculation, albeit serious speculation given the markets’ response.
If implemented, the tariff would effectively double duty costs on Chinese goods, pushing total rates to around 120–130%. DDP shipments would be hit hardest, as suppliers factor those higher duties into their landed pricing.
Chinese exporters are already accelerating October shipments, while US importers are rushing to beat the possible deadline. The legal basis under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act remains contested and could face Supreme Court scrutiny in November.
Until the White House confirms, this is a case of prepare, don’t panic!
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Apple’s $600 Billion U.S. Manufacturing Expansion
Apple’s record-breaking $600 billion investment marks a major shift in U.S. manufacturing-strengthening domestic chip and AI production while keeping iPhone assembly abroad. The plan expands facilities across Texas, Arizona, and Kentucky, creating 20,000 new jobs and reducing reliance on Asia, but full reshoring remains unrealistic due to cost and supply-chain density. In short, this is Apple’s play to secure component sovereignty and future-proof its supply chain-not to build iPhones in America just yet.
India’s Electricity Reform
India has proposed the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, a landmark reform that would open its retail electricity market to private companies - ending decades of state control. The move would let businesses choose their power supplier, much like telecom competition, bringing major implications for manufacturing costs and global sourcing.
If approved, the reform could lower industrial tariffs, phase out cross-subsidies, and allow international buyers to negotiate energy contracts directly with private retailers such as Adani, Tata Power and Torrent Power. For sourcing teams, this means better price visibility, renewable energy options, and more competitive procurement in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Implementation challenges remain - including state resistance, regulatory oversight, and subsidy reform - but if successful, this could mark India’s biggest energy liberalisation in 20 years, transforming how global supply chains buy power.
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That’s it for this weeks Sourcing Spotlight.
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Until next time,
Quiet sourcing. Loud impact.
