Futuresource Consulting has announced the publication of its latest complementary bulletin, “Tariff Reflections on the Road,” a series of thought leadership articles and video reports which capture the pulse of the display, home audio, and broadcast industry following the teams’ trip to China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the USA.
Navigating the complexities of ‘Country of Origin’
In the ever-evolving landscape of global trade, the concept of “Country of Origin” (COO) has been propelled into the limelight in recent global trade negotiations due to its significant impact on tariffs, regulatory compliance, and supply chain strategies.
“Having recently navigated this complex process with the support of outside counsel for Christie, successfully labelling a product as ‘made in Canada,’ I can attest to the competitive advantages that can be gained,” comments Ted Romanowitz, principal consultant, Futuresource Consulting.
This article explores the competitive advantages based on factory locations, with lower tariff rates for factories in Mexico and Canada compared to those in the USA. It also discusses the impact of tariffs on parts and subcomponents, and the strategic decisions involved in sourcing components and transforming products.
Insights from China, Hong Kong, and Korea
Guy Hammett, head of home audio at Futuresource, also shares his experiences from a two-and-a-half-week trip across China, Hong Kong, and Korea. During this journey, he met with clients, spoke at events, and discussed the latest trends in the audio industry, with a particular focus on tariffs.
“The uncertainty in American policy, which changes frequently, has led to a consensus that the trade landscape has shifted for the medium term. In the audio industry, economic challenges typically see consumers still purchasing new speakers and soundbars but opting for lower quality models due to rising prices,” says Hammett.
Hammett delves into the economic challenges and changes in consumer behavior, the importance of dual sourcing, and maintaining a diverse supply chain to mitigate the impact of tariffs.
Navigating the tariff landscape at NAB show 2025
Simon Forrest, principal technology consultant, shares his insights from the NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Throughout the show, the complexity and uncertainty surrounding tariffs were major talking points.
“With potential tariffs reaching up to 40%, the impact on hardware-based sectors is expected to be substantial,” says Forrest.
This article discusses the substantial impact on hardware-based sectors, the relative safety of the software and services sector amidst tariff turmoil, and creative solutions to tariff challenges. Forrest also shares an innovative strategy where manufacturers used dial-up modems to reclassify their products as telecommunications equipment, thereby reducing tariffs.
The report includes reflections and insights from key countries such as China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Mexico, Canada, and the USA. It provides a comprehensive overview of how these countries are navigating the tariff landscape and the strategic decisions being made to stay competitive.
To download the full report, which gives access to the recordings, visit the FutureSource website.
