Welcome to this week’s Sourcing Spotlight.
In this weeks edition, Trump briefly bundled Greenland into a transatlantic tariff threat before abruptly pausing it, USPS is opening parts of its last-mile network to competitive bidding that could reshape parcel pricing, and the U.S. is signalling Taiwan as a “trusted” supply partner via a 15% tariff cap while the Nvidia H200 episode shows China-bound AI chip flows can still be “approved but stuck.”
Feature Story
Trump’s Greenland U Turn: The Tariff Threat That Shook Europe
Trump’s Greenland gambit dragged an Arctic security file into the trade arena, with early January threats to slap 10–25% tariffs on key European allies unless Denmark agreed to a deal that effectively hands the US greater control of Greenland. After talks with NATO’s secretary general and European leaders, the White House tone shifted fast and the tariffs were “paused”, but the message landed anyway: territory, tariffs, and alliance politics can be bundled into one pressure tactic, then switched off just as quickly, leaving businesses to price the uncertainty. For SMEs selling into the US or relying on politically sensitive inputs, the practical play is to scenario test a sudden duty shock, tighten tariff clauses in contracts, and watch for any EU countermeasures if the threats return.
Read the full breakdown for the timeline, who was targeted, what it could mean for transatlantic trade, and the concrete steps to stress test your costs before the next U turn.
USPS Opens Last-Mile Network to Competitive Bidding: What It Means for Parcel Delivery
USPS is quietly turning its biggest strategic asset, the last mile, into something closer to shared infrastructure. By opening parts of its delivery network to competitive bidding, it is inviting retailers, 3PLs and logistics players to buy into doorstep coverage at a facility level, potentially reshaping the cost and speed maths that has long favoured UPS and FedEx in certain lanes. The upside is obvious: more optionality, fewer surcharges in hard-to-serve areas, and new ways to build faster delivery tiers without owning the full network. The risk is equally real: bidding introduces price volatility and operational complexity, and the entire model only works if USPS can protect service standards while balancing its public service obligations. For small e-commerce brands, the most likely win is indirect, through consolidators and 3PLs who bid for capacity and rebundle it into simpler shipping products.
Read further for the practical playbook: what to ask your 3PL, which data to pull now to stress test your lanes, and how to decide whether you should pursue direct injection, partner-led access, or stay put until the market settles.
Taiwan’s 15% US Tariff Cap and the Nvidia H200 Bottleneck: What It Signals for US–China Trade
Washington is treating Taiwan less like “just another origin” and more like a strategic supply-chain partner. The new 15% tariff cap (with no stacking on top of MFN rates) makes Taiwan-origin sourcing cheaper, but more importantly, more predictable, just as the U.S. tries to ring-fence China’s access to advanced AI compute. The Nvidia H200 situation shows the messy reality: even when U.S. rules reopen a controlled export channel, shipments can still end up “approved but stuck” once China-side customs and informal guidance kick in. For importers and operators, the lesson is simple: Taiwan is being pulled closer into the U.S. trusted lane, while AI hardware flows to China are becoming a policy-managed capacity, not a normal commercial pipeline.
Read the full breakdown for what the tariff cap really covers, which Taiwan sectors benefit most, and the practical steps to map origin, HTS exposure and tech-linked compliance risk before your costs get ambushed.
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.
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Until next time,
Quiet sourcing. Loud impact.
