Unexpected Costs Brands Face When Fulfilling Orders Internationally — and How to Avoid Them

Expanding into international markets opens doors to growth, but it also brings complex and often underestimated fulfillment challenges. Brands must manage international returns, calculate duties and taxes accurately, and account for dimensional weight to avoid hidden costs and protect margins.

Key Unexpected International Fulfillment Costs & Solutions:

1. Returns That Sink Margins

2. Miscalculated Duties and Taxes

3. Dimensional Weight Discrepancies

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What We’re Reading

• At China’s Wholesale Hub, U.S. Orders Have Suddenly Halted. One Example: Socks: ​U.S. orders at China's major wholesale hub have abruptly declined, with sock manufacturers particularly affected. This sudden drop reflects broader shifts in global trade dynamics and consumer demand.​ (WSJ)

• Shein’s Bargain-App Formula Crumbles Under Trump: The fashion giant faces a double whammy of steep U.S. tariffs and an end to its duty-free shipping to America. (WSJ)

• Panic Grips World’s Factory Hubs After Trump Tariff Whiplash: ​President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs have imposed steep duties—up to 49%—on imports from some of the world's poorest nations, causing widespread factory shutdowns, canceled orders, and job losses across countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Madagascar. Despite a temporary 90-day pause on some tariffs, the uncertainty has devastated export-dependent economies, prompting urgent appeals from the UN and trade groups to exempt vulnerable nations from these measures. (Bloomberg)

• How the U.S. Lost Its Place as the World’s Manufacturing Powerhouse: President Trump says his tariff plan will restore American manufacturing might, but economists are skeptical. (WSJ)

Partner Spotlight: Cubeship

Cubeship help clients simplify, standardize, and automate their supply chains for a digital future.  Enabling clients to focus on their business rather than managing their supply chain issues. We are able to do this through AI Agents that track/trace purchase orders, shipments and customs status along the supply chain. Our robust trade compliance team helps clients review existing tariff issues and find solutions to mitigate tariff disruptions. Connect with us to learn more about our FTZ, Ecommerce and supply chain solutions. 

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