Start with the exposure
A sourcing review needs a defined product, origin, destination and time horizon. Without those details, a headline tariff rate says little about the exposure of an individual business. The research question should specify which part of the supply chain is under review and what decision the client is considering.
Separate the measure from the scenario
The scope and timing of an announced measure need to be examined alongside exemptions and implementation arrangements. A scenario assessment then asks what different policy paths could mean for the business. Keeping these steps distinct makes it easier to see which conclusions depend on the policy text and which depend on assumptions.
Compare the whole decision
Alternative sourcing or production locations raise further questions about capacity, lead times, rules of origin and the local operating environment. The policy assessment provides part of that comparison. The client’s commercial and operational information is needed to understand the full trade-off.
Leave a clear monitoring question
A useful brief ends with the developments that could change the assessment: an exemption decision, revised implementation guidance or a change in the policy timetable. Those indicators give the next update a purpose.