How can businesses navigate a landscape that won’t sit still?

Midterm elections are around the corner, and the US operating landscape is shifting like sand dunes in the desert. Between rising geopolitical risk, accelerating technological change, and a shifting policy environment, many leaders are constantly on their toes.

Each of those issues alone creates major challenges for businesses. But none of them happen in isolation. A policy change can have ripple effects on supply chains, capital investment, and other parts of an organization.

As these shifts occur, they create a pretty powerful sandstorm for leaders to deal with. In collaboration with PwC, we looked into how leaders can navigate this uncertainty strategically. We found a consistent formula that supports business success: Connect the dots between issues, get a clear picture of how disruption impacts the business, and take action before options narrow.

To get a sense of what that looks like in practice, here’s a look at some key areas where businesses are facing disruption and what leaders can do to traverse it.

Tariff volatility and supply chain risk

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Trade uncertainty can impact sourcing decisions, cost structures, and supply chain strategy.

Rather than reactively mitigating risks, consider building supply chains that can adapt as policy, markets, and geopolitics shift.

Global trade is changing. And the changes are challenging leaders to make decisions that keep them ahead, not just afloat. Some strategies to consider:

• Leverage real-time tariff insights so you know what countries, products, and suppliers are impacted and to what extent.
• Connect complex data sources like ERP, US Customs ACE data, and competitor info so you’re informed by more dynamic insights.
• Work with subject matter specialists across key areas (supply chain, customs, tax) to support more efficient decision-making.

Short of investing in a high-quality crystal ball, real-time scenario modeling can be another helpful way to prepare for potential disruption. It uses trade data streams to create predictive insights that leaders can take cues from.

Scenario models allow leaders to track schedules and proposed rate changes that are tied to different supply chains and classification footprints. From there, they can better equip themselves to proactively mitigate risks, seize opportunities, and make decisions with confidence, despite the volatile trade landscape.

Tax policy shifts

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Changes in tax policy can affect everything from R&D plans to value chain transformation to supply chain planning.

As new rules reshape costs and incentives, look for ways to use tax planning as a strategic lever (not just a compliance box to check).

Tax policy is only becoming a bigger driver behind business decisions. And the right tax strategy doesn’t just meet requirements—it drives businesses forward with clarity, integrity, and long-term impact. To find that, consider these strategies:

• Work with consultants who will blend tax strategies with your business goals using operational, technical, and financial insights.
• Organize your data, connect your systems, and apply AI in a way that’s fit for purpose and reinforced by human-in-the-loop controls.
• Closely monitor tax policy, legislation, and regulation changes, and surround yourself with experts who can help you incorporate changes into your planning.

Tax compliance can often feel like a burden, but it doesn’t have to be. Taking a connected approach can help turn compliance into a strategic asset. Consider what it would mean to combine AI-powered technology with deep tax expertise: Processes could be streamlined, risks could be flagged automatically, and accuracy could improve significantly.

Of course, leaders need 360-degree visibility across the company’s tax landscape. But that should include data visualizations and predictive AI to help bring more transparency, clarity, and confidence to decision-making.

Domestic production and reshoring

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Tariffs, geopolitical shifts, and a US manufacturing push have many leaders thinking about expanding or reshoring operations.

While it presents an opportunity for domestic growth and innovation, it also exposes critical gaps in infrastructure, investment capacity, and workforce skills.

To carry out domestic production and reshoring plans, there are a few important considerations to factor in (especially for businesses that haven’t opened a new facility before). Here’s a high-level list:

• What infrastructure, talent, and utilities are required for your plans?
• What do your customer, supplier, network, financing, and tax considerations look like?
• What rigorous scenario analysis is needed to anticipate shifting geopolitical, economic, and supply chain dynamics?

Reshoring and pivoting to domestic production can be a huge undertaking, one that many companies opt not to take on alone. When evaluating potential advisors for the process, look closely at their track record.

Have they helped companies choose sites, launch infrastructure programs, and deliver on capital projects before? Do they have specialists in tariffs, supply chain, tax, operations, and geopolitics? Do they regularly build strategies for new US production operations? If domestic production and reshoring feel like your Mount Everest, the best guides will answer “yes” to all those questions.

Finding steadiness in unpredictability

As the US midterm elections approach, shifts in trade, supply chain, and tax policy are becoming even more top of mind for executives—and your planning cycle shouldn’t wait for results.

A shift in congressional priorities, oversight, or the broader political environment could change the assumptions behind your decisions, while other conditions may hold steady. PwC helps you identify the scenarios worth preparing for, pressure-test the decisions already on your agenda, and pinpoint where your business needs flexibility. That way, you can be ready for whatever comes next.