Month: January 2025

A major strike at ports along the East and Gulf coasts has been averted after the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract. The agreement was announced Wednesday, just days before the January 15 deadline.

The deal still needs to be ratified by union members and USMX representatives. The two sides will continue operating under the current contract until the votes are held. No dates for these meetings have been announced yet.

The ILA and USMX expressed satisfaction with the outcome in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”

Negotiations had stalled over port automation, and the union was concerned about jo…

With President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House later this month, there has been a fair amount of attention focused on his plans regarding tariffs, a key cornerstone of his economic agenda.

As reported in LM, in posts made on his Truth Social platform in late November, Trump said that, effective January 20, when he takes office, that he will sign an Executive Order, calling for a 25% tariff on all U.S.-bound imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on all U.S.-bound imports from China.

Regarding tariffs placed on Canada, a December Bloomberg report stated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted that should the U.S. impose new tariffs on U.S.-bound Canadian imports, Canada will respond with retaliatory tariffs, as it did in 2018, following tariffs placed on Canadian steel and aluminum, a move called successful by Trudeau in the report.

“Let’s not kid ourselves in any way, shape o…

As 2025 begins, the global logistics landscape remains uncertain, with challenges ranging from geopolitical instability to climate-related disruptions. Supply chains must evolve to not just survive but thrive in the face of these hurdles. Businesses are increasingly adopting strategies to make their supply chains antifragile, able to adapt, and grow stronger through disruption.

The concept of an antifragile supply chain emphasizes flexibility, preparedness, and technology. Companies like Maersk are leading the way with innovative solutions, such as their Gemini East-West network launching in early 2025. “Disruptions are inevitable, but the right planning and partnerships can minimize their impact,” said a Maersk spokesperson.

Here are five strategies to make supply chains antifragile in 2025:

1. Build Resilience with Flexible Networks

Networks that can adapt quickly are less likely to experience domino effects from disruptions. Maersk’s Ge…

Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are set to resume on January 7, raising hopes for a resolution before the current deal expires on January 15. Bloomberg reports that the talks aim to avoid a potential strike that could shut down major ports on the US East and Gulf coasts, which handle about half of the nation’s container volumes.

The key sticking point remains using semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes at port terminals. While the equipment is allowed under the current agreement and already in use at some terminals, ILA President Harold Daggett has taken a firm stance against further automation, calling it a threat to dockworker jobs.

USMX argues that modernization, including automation, is essential for the competitiveness of US ports and the broader economy. In a December 20 statement, USMX emphasized, “Modern technology dramatically increases the amount of car…