Tariffs Are Reshaping How SMB Importers Operate – Not Just Temporarily

Tariff headlines may shift, but for many importers, the impact hasn’t eased.

In this conversation, Freightos Research Lead Judah Levine and Adam Lewis, President of Clearit, walk through what our latest survey data shows – and why many SMBs are still under strain despite greater policy stability.

Watch the full analysis below, and explore the complete survey report to see how importer sentiment and behavior has shifted across the past nine months of tariff changes.

Key survey takeaways

Tariffs remain broadly disruptive – and concern is still rising
Nearly all SMB importers report ongoing disruption, with pessimism increasing even after greater policy clarity.

Stability hasn’t translated into confidence
While tariff levels have become more predictable, most importers say higher costs still make planning difficult.

Small businesses are reacting defensively
Rather than making long-term strategic shifts, SMBs are cutting volumes, delaying shipments, or making constrained sourcing adjustments.

Devorah Wolf

Content Marketing Lead

When freight gets complicated, Devorah Wolf, Freightos’ digital freight aficionado, swoops in to clarify the nitty-gritty of global trade with blogs, guides, videos, and newsletters for every shipper – from beginner to expert. She’s so excited about shipping that most of her clothing is imported. But in freight’s defense, that’s basically true about everyone.