Can Acquirers Help Merchants Assess Tariff Costs?

As global trade tensions ebb and flow, tariffs have become a hidden variable in merchants’ cost structures. But what if the acquiring industry, already sitting at the intersection of transaction data, merchant analytics, and global commerce, could help forecast tariff exposure?  And then include it in the cost of an international sale?

The acquiring industry has long focused on payments, yet its data holds untapped potential for trade intelligence. By integrating SKU-level information, country-of-origin data, and tariff schedules, acquirers could offer merchants tools to model “landed cost” scenarios.  This would show how tariffs affect profit margins or pricing strategies. Think of it as a new kind of risk dashboard, where payment analytics meet supply-chain foresight.

Such a capability wouldn’t replace customs experts but could complement them, especially for SMBs who lack in-house trade teams. Imagine receiving a notification that your top-selling imported products will face a 10% duty increase next quarter, delivered through your acquiring platform.

The infrastructure exists. The opportunity lies in expanding the definition of acquiring itself. As tariffs, logistics, and payments converge, the acquirer that helps merchants see around the corner could become indispensable.

Would you trust your acquirer to model your tariff exposure? The ETA’s Payment Facilitation Committee is considering this discussion.  Let me know if this would be an interesting conversation for you.