Transparency becoming a basic requirement in supply chains

ID 385725842 © Iryna Kushnarova

Supply chain transparency is shifting from being a competitive advantage to a baseline requirement for global trade, according to Don Mabry, SVP global trade solutions at Infios.  

In an interview with The Loadstar, Mr Mabry warned that regardless of how fast a player could move goods, if they can’t document origin, cost and compliance, they would “quickly fall behind”. 

“Supply chain transparency is becoming mandatory because regulators now require proofs, investors price opacity as risk, and consumers increasingly treat ‘where it’s made’ as a trust issue rather than a marketing claim,” he explained.  

According to him, customs enforcement has undergone a “fundamental change” over the past year, with authorities increasingly relying on AI-driven risk targeting, data sharing between countries and pre-emptive detention of goods. 

“This makes traceability itself the price of market access.” 

Mr Mabry pointed to regimes such as the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, under which, he noted, a lack of traceability could itself trigger enforcement action. 

And looking ahead, he predicted transparency requirements would deepen further as regulators mandate multi-tier supply chain visibility. 

“This year, we’ll see supply chain transparency shift from a competitive advantage to a compliance requirement,” he said. “Any trade process still reliant on paper, email, or spreadsheets will be viewed as a risk, rather than a cost-saving shortcut.” 

Industries with complex, multi-tier sourcing models, including apparel, electronics, and carbon-intensive goods moving along China-to-US and Asia-to-EU tradelanes, are likely to feel the impact first, he believes. 

“Transparency failures are increasingly blocking market access before violations are even proven,” said Mr Mabry. 

The consequences of non-compliance extend far beyond fines or shipment delays, he added.

“The real penalty is the risk of losing market access, margin, financing, and ultimately consumer trust.” 

While small and mid-sized enterprises often feel the impact first, Mr Mabry warned that large multinationals faced deeper long-term exposure, due to the scale and complexity of their operations.