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How trade tensions affect e-commerce

March 5, 2026
Concepción García

In a world that is increasingly interconnected, commercial tensions between countries not only do they impact large corporations or governments, but also the complete e-commerce ecosystem. Decisions on tariffs, export and import regulations and technological sanctions directly influence the strategy, costs and viability of many online businesses, from marketplaces sellers to dropship-based stores or technology providers.

Next, we analyze How are these effects reflected in some key areas of e-commerce.

What about Spanish brands that sell on Amazon US?

Selling on Amazon United States remains one of the most powerful ways to international growth for Spanish brands. But, in an environment of trade tensions, the dynamics change compared to previous years.

When a Spanish brand exports products to the U.S. In the U.S., these can face additional tariffs depending on the type of product and on current trade policies. When the tariff environment is uncertain, they do not rely solely on shipping products from Spain.

Real cases

Although individual cases of SMEs are not always published, recent industry analyses show that many sellers have experienced uncertainty when planning inventories and import costs due to variations in tariffs between Europe and the US UU.. This is pushing them to adapt your market entry strategies North American.

That is to say, the commercial tensions don't prevent selling on Amazon US, But they do more important to plan in detail import costs, regulatory requirements and logistics chains to remain competitive in a market as saturated as the United States.

How does it affect dropshipping?

Dropshipping, which is a model in which the seller does not have their own inventory, but instead ships directly from the supplier to the end customer, is especially sensitive to changes in tariffs and import regulations.

Until recently, many sellers were able to ship low-value products directly to the end customer without significant customs costs, due to the exemption from low-value tariffs, also called “de minimis”.

In 2025, that situation changed:

The real impact that this has had on dropshipping is that the cost structure has changed. A package that was previously shipped without customs costs can now generate unexpected rates, which reduces margins and deteriorates the customer experience if these rates were not foreseen.

Real cases

Although the headlines generally focus on large economies or global tariffs, there are generalized opinions that are shared among the e-commerce sector. The vendors mainly stand out:

These trends show that, although dropshipping is still viable, their operating structure is being adapted to the new realities of international trade.

What about American technology providers?

Modern ecommerce depends not only on logistics and sales, but also on technological infrastructure. Many of the tools used by online stores, ranging from payment software to cloud services, come from companies based in the United States.

Some of the most relevant actors in this area are:

In this case, trade tensions don't generate digital tariffs, but they do regulatory uncertainty in areas such as data transfer or the regulation of international digital services. In order to continue operating effectively and minimizing risks, Spanish online stores must:

These types of considerations do not stop the use of American technology in e-commerce, but they do make companies better plan their technology stack based on international regulatory compliance.

Keys to adapt to the new business environment

The trade tensions between the European Union and the United States in 2025 and 2026 translate into concrete events for e-commerce, in which it is especially important to highlight:

In short, it's about a real problem since the commercial tensions that are taking place have meant that e-commerce businesses, which operate internationally in the North American market, reflect on internationalization, costs and the strategic partners with which they operate.

This reflection and paradigm shift have meant that operational and growth decisions in the medium and long term are being questioned and redefined.

Why training is key: the role of Educa.Pro

Educa.Pro provides differential value with its platform, allowing you to create personalized training itineraries, integrate microcredentials, and develop strategic competencies like logistics international, global trade, marketplace management, cross-border regulation or automation applied to ecommerce.

Thanks to your updated catalog and their ability to monitor progress, organizations can prepare their teams to operate in changing markets, improve their competitiveness and anticipate the challenges imposed by new tariff and technological scenarios. In addition, Educa.Pro promotes corporate learning with specific paths linked to digital skills and data analysis, reinforcing the ability of companies to grow in complex and globalized environments.

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