Canadian businesses are preparing to localize sourcing and inventory as they face rising trade uncertainty, including the anticipated 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports scheduled for Aug. 19. A new Kinaxis‑sponsored IDC Making Supply Chain AI Accountable survey said companies were already moving ahead with reshoring plans instead of reacting hastily to disruption.
According to the study, 22 per cent of Canadian businesses expect AI to push their sourcing toward domestic or local suppliers over the next five years, compared with 17 per cent globally. Another 13 per cent agree that regionalization or friend‑shoring will be part of their long‑term strategy.
Canadian respondents said trust in AI‑driven decisions is their top barrier to adoption, with 55 per cent identifying it as the biggest challenge, above the 52 per cent global average.
Inflation and cost volatility are driving AI uptake more than trade policy, as 32 per cent of respondents said they think inflation is the top risk influencing AI adoption, ahead of trade uncertainty at 24 per cent.
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