Omron streamlines
Global Trade Compliance
with ONESOURCE

Global trade has expanded rapidly under free trade agreements, but since the first Trump administration in 2017—and again with the second term beginning in 2025—tariff policies have shifted dramatically. These changes have introduced new complexities and compliance risks for international businesses.

Tariffs, a key revenue source for governments, rely on accurate classification of goods using HS codes—standardised by the World Customs Organisation and used in over 200 countries. Misclassification can lead to costly penalties and trade disruptions. The evolving U.S. trade stance has made accurate HS code management more critical than ever.

Omron Corporation, a global leader with over 60 import/export bases, previously managed HS codes locally using spreadsheets. This decentralised approach made it difficult for headquarters to monitor classifications and ensure consistency.

As tariff barriers increased, Omron recognised the need to centralise HS code management to reduce compliance risks and improve transparency.

HS code interpretation varies by country, especially for complex products like industrial electronics. To address this, Omron formed a central team of classification experts in Japan, working with regional customs teams to build a global HS code database.

Using Thomson Reuters’ ONESOURCE Global Classification, Omron documented classification logic and made it accessible across all import bases. This enabled:

• Consistent classification across regions
• Centralised master data management
• Expert oversight to reduce errors
• Improved operational efficiency

ONESOURCE acts as a centralised product master database, automating classification and ensuring compliance. It supports country-specific variations under a unified global framework and offers a “Global View” feature to track how each country classifies a product.

HS codes should be globally consistent—but in practice, they’re subject to local interpretation. Misalignment can lead to unexpected tariffs or disqualification from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). ONESOURCE helps Omron proactively identify discrepancies and ensure the correct HS code is used—especially when leveraging FTAs—minimising risk and maximising trade benefits.

Omron Corporation adopted Thomson Reuters’ ONESOURCE Global Classification to centralise HS code management across its global operations. This platform enables alignment with headquarters’ classification policies while accommodating regional differences.

The system integrates regulatory content and tariff rate tables, making it easy to visualise how products are classified in different countries. It also allows users to store supporting documentation for classification decisions and track changes—who made them, when, and why. This transparency was a key factor in Omron’s decision.

Among several providers, Omron chose Thomson Reuters for its competitive pricing, strong reputation in the U.S., prior experience with the platform, and its ability to provide consistent support across regions.

Omron plans to integrate ONESOURCE Global Classification with its core enterprise systems. This will embed trade compliance directly into business processes, enhancing efficiency and reducing risk.

The company is also exploring additional Thomson Reuters solutions, such as export control and security trade management systems, to further strengthen its compliance framework.

To stay competitive, global companies must understand how products are classified and taxed in each market—and respond quickly to changes. Omron collaborates closely with regional customs teams, especially in the U.S. and China, to stay ahead of regulatory shifts.

ONESOURCE supports this agility by providing real-time updates on tariff changes and special notes. When integrated with internal systems, updates can be applied automatically—eliminating manual input and reducing errors.

In today’s fast-changing trade environment, accurate and reliable master data is essential for maintaining compliance and conducting business with confidence.