A new report from risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft finds that major emerging economies, including China, Brazil, and India, are better prepared than expected to withstand U.S. tariff measures. The study, released Thursday, argues that diversified trade links and expanding regional supply chains have made these nations more resilient to external shocks.

The analysis challenges the widespread belief that U.S. tariffs would severely disrupt global growth. Instead, it finds that many developing economies have adapted by redirecting exports to neighboring markets and investing in self-sufficient production systems, especially in manufacturing and technology.

However, not all countries share the same level of protection. Commodity-dependent economies remain more vulnerable, with those lacking strong governance facing higher inflation and fiscal pressures. The report warns that such nations may still struggle to manage prolonged trade disputes.

For multinational businesses, the findings suggest a shift from panic to planning. Firms are advised to diversify sourcing strategies and assess tariff exposure country by country, rather than assuming uniform risk across emerging markets.

In essence, the report signals that the global trade landscape is evolving into one defined less by dependence on the U.S. and more by regional cooperation. Emerging markets, once viewed as passive victims of protectionism, are increasingly shaping their own economic destinies.

Source: Reuters.