Staying Ahead of Trade Changes: Why APPA Is Your Strategic Partner in 2026

As APPA members start off 2026, one thing is clear: tariffs, trade rules, and supply-chain pressures are not going away, but neither is APPA’s commitment to helping you navigate them with practical, business-focused guidance.

Over the past several months, we’ve hosted open office hours to answer member questions in real time, along with a monthly video update and we have published a series of member focused Trade Talks recaps and analysis pieces that together form a roadmap for pet industry leaders. These updates focus on three big themes: protecting your rights under the current tariff regime, rethinking manufacturing strategy, and staying ahead of fast-moving legal and policy changes.
 

1. Turning complex tariff rules into actionable roadmaps

In our IEEPA roadmap blog, customs expert Rebecca Rizutti breaks down what the pending Supreme Court decision on emergency-power tariffs could mean for importers and, more importantly, what to do about it now. We walk members through critical liquidation timelines, explains the “red zone” where options narrow quickly, and outline two primary strategies: trying to pause liquidation through CBP extensions and Court of International Trade (CIT) actions, or allowing liquidation and relying on protests.

Complementing that framework, our Costco lawsuit analysis explains why a major retailer went to the CIT to challenge emergency tariffs and preserve refund rights, and what that signals for pet product manufacturers, importers, and brands that do not have big-box legal budgets. The takeaway: doing nothing is itself a decision one that may quietly lock companies out of future refund opportunities. 

Our December Trade Talks recap ties this together, highlighting the broader tariff landscape, the administration’s likely “Plan B” under Sections 301 and 232, and the growing pattern of companies seeking extensions, protests, and strategic litigation to protect their bottom lines.

2. Manufacturing strategy in a lower-rate, higher-expectation world

A companion manufacturing blog looks beyond policy headlines to what all this means on the factory floor. Even as the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cuts ease financing conditions and equity markets strengthen, manufacturing strategy in the pet industry remains constrained by capacity, labor, and category-specific realities.

For many APPA members, “reshoring” is less an all-or-nothing move and more a shift toward diversified, multi-country sourcing balancing tariffs, lead times, and reliability. At the same time, strong demand from Gen Z and Millennial pet owners and multi-pet households is driving SKU proliferation, customization, and the need for more agile manufacturing and packaging capabilities. 

The blog also explores how new tax incentives and expensing rules can make investments in automation, near-shoring, and modern capacity more attractive if they are anchored in sound, long-term strategy rather than short-term incentives alone. 

3. Looking ahead: APPA as your trade and regulatory partner in 2026

Taken together, these blogs along with our ongoing Trade Talks sessions and office hours underscore APPA’s role as more than just a source of news. We are building a practical playbook for pet companies navigating tariffs, manufacturing decisions, and regulatory risk in real time.

As we move into 2026, APPA will continue to deliver:

• Exclusive member content translating complex trade and tax developments into clear next steps
• Data-driven insights from our State of the Industry work to inform sourcing, pricing, and investment decisions
• Events and open office hours where you can get real time answer to the questions that impact your business from our expert panelists

To stay ahead of the curve, we strongly encourage you to subscribe to APPA’s Regulatory Updates, a concise weekly summary of new laws, regulations, and policy shifts impacting pet businesses. These updates will follow APPA’s four pillars of advocacy:

1. Connecting People with Pets
2. Responsible Pet Trade and Commerce
3. Safer Pet Products
4. Regulatory Reports

And are designed so your team does not have to sift through dense legal releases or scattered headlines; you get the curated, pet-industry-specific implications delivered straight to your inbox.

In an environment defined by volatility and complexity, information and timing are strategic advantages. APPA’s trade blogs, events, and Trade & Regulatory Updates are built to give you both so you can protect margins, plan with confidence, and keep doing what you do best: delivering innovative products and services for pets and the people who love them.

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