Tariff Volatility, FTZ Complexity, and the Technology Gap
Free Webinar | August 6, 2026 | 12:30–1:30 p.m. ET
Sponsored by QAD
Tariff volatility is no longer episodic. It is a structural operating condition, and Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) programs are increasingly being deployed as a frontline strategic response. But new research shows many companies are scaling these programs on fragmented systems that are not keeping pace with today’s operational and compliance requirements.
QAD, in conjunction with AWS and Dimensional Research, surveyed 301 qualified enterprise executives and senior professionals responsible for international trade, supply chain, and compliance operations. The findings reveal that while companies are expanding FTZ operations to protect margins and improve trade agility, many are also facing new audit exposure, financial risk, and execution challenges.
Session will cover
- Why compliance exposure is becoming harder to contain, with 67% of companies using FTZs reporting negative FTZ audit findings in the last 11 months
- Where technology gaps are limiting FTZ performance, including the 80% of respondents who said their FTZ software is missing key capabilities needed to manage current tariff volatility
- How companies are approaching modernization, as 99% are using or planning to use AI to manage FTZ operations, and what data foundations, integrated workflows, and compliance infrastructure are needed for AI to deliver meaningful value
Key Takeaways
- A research-backed view of how more than 300 enterprise trade, supply chain, and compliance leaders are responding to tariff volatility and FTZ complexity
- A clearer understanding of where audit exposure and financial risk are concentrated across FTZ operations
- Strategic context for evaluating whether your current FTZ systems are equipped to support the complexity your program is now expected to absorb
- Insight into where AI and modernization efforts are being directed, and what must be in place for those efforts to reduce risk rather than add complexity
Speakers
- David Gehringer, Principal, Dimensional Research
- Joshua Guy, VP of Global Trade Compliance, QAD
- Christopher Smith, Customs Trade Advisor, IKEA Purchasing Services (US), Inc.