Tariffs and customs rules are changing within days, and the returns side of peak is getting more complicated and more expensive. U.S. retailers handled nearly $850 billion in merchandise returns last year. For international brands, each return carries customs and duty exposure, and the end of de minimis exemptions and higher tariffs on some commodities change whether a return is worth processing at all.

Merchants who refund the full price, duties included, pay those duties twice when a product crosses a border. Brands that optimize only for the cheapest return shipping often leave inventory in transit longer. Some markets offer duty reclaim programs, but they require enrollment and documentation. Others may need in-market consolidation points that keep returns from recrossing borders and allow inspection before refunds go out.

The bigger risk is timing. Returns can double at processing facilities during the January and February surge, so receiving needs staffing, a clear destination, and a plan for how often returns arrive. Partial returns must reconcile to the original customs documentation, and relying on one carrier for first-mile pickup leaves customers stuck during a strike or disruption.

The answer is flexibility. Brands that lock into one process, one carrier, or one policy for every market will feel it when volume surges. Stress-test your returns process now, before the rules change again.

This article originally appeared on SupplyChainBrain, written by Helaine Rich, VP of Strategic Sales & Administration at ePost Global. → Read the original article on SupplyChainBrain