Benesch Partner and Vice Chair of the firm’s Transportation & Logistics Practice Group, Jonathan Todd, was quoted in Supply Chain Dive in the article “This ‘boring’ tariff strategy can make a huge difference, experts say.”
The article explores how reclassifying goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) can dramatically affect duty rates—and how businesses face uncertainty when trying to keep pace with shifting trade policy. Todd noted that companies often struggle to determine the “real source of truth” as tariff actions move through multiple stages.
He explained that information often surfaces first through a social media post, followed by a White House announcement, and only later becomes official through publication in the Federal Register. Because Customs and Border Protection cannot implement changes until the Federal Register notice is issued, the timing gap creates real challenges for importers seeking to stay compliant while managing risk.
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