Importers bear the burden of complying with all U.S. laws and regulations when their goods enter the country. Failure to exercise reasonable care in this effort can result in long delays in the release of merchandise, and the imposition of stiff penalties.

Factory audits alone are not sufficient to prevent labor abuses in global supply chains. Technology must also be applied to the problem.

It’s the obvious solution for avoiding the squeeze of a mounting U.S.-China trade dispute: move production to other East Asian nations. For many companies, however, this is not a viable option.

The U.S.-China tariff conflict is causing irreversible damage. It's creating new business opportunities, too.