Traditional tariff-washing — double invoicing, undeclared assists — has existed as long as tariffs themselves. But a newer risk is emerging around corporate disclosure: how and when companies publicly report on tariff impacts, mitigation strategies and financial effects in an environment where trade policies shift rapidly. Wayne Imrie of insurer Beazley examines the delicate balance compliance officers must strike, prioritizing transparency about decisions already made while resisting pressure to comment prematurely on uncertain impacts, recognizing that today’s statements will be scrutinized years from now when the market better understands tariff effects.
Tariffs have been long used by countries around the world as a bargaining tool with trade partners and to prop up domestic industry. In 2025, ongoing negotiations between the US government and its global trading partners have made tariffs a shifting target. A wide range of economic effects has impelled companies to adapt quickly and pivot frequently as duties are imposed and lifted. This landscape presents a challenging environment for boardrooms.
Organizations run the risk of tariff-washing in two ways. From a business operations point of view, how a company sources materials and products and how they declare them as they enter the country…
