Trade News

China’s latest round of retaliatory tariffs took effect Monday, hitting roughly $14 billion worth of U.S. goods and raising concerns about disruptions in critical supply chains. The new measures, which impose 10% to 15% taxes, target American liquefied natural gas (LNG), coal, crude oil, farm equipment, and select automotive goods.

The move comes in response to the U.S. government’s recent 10% tariff on Chinese imports, which President Donald Trump has called an “opening salvo” in a renewed trade offensive against China. While Beijing’s tariffs are more targeted than the broad U.S. levies, analysts say they could significantly impact industries that rely on Chinese trade.

Energy Supply Chains at Risk

One of the most immediate effects of China’s tariffs will be on the energy sector, where U.S. exports of LNG, coal, and crude oil will now face new cost barriers. China is one of the fastest-growing LNG markets, and U.S. producers could see reduced demand as Chines…

With new tariffs taking effect, fashion brands face fresh supply chain challenges. Beyond the immediate cost impact, companies must rethink sourcing, strengthen vendor relationships, and embrace digital tools to stay competitive. We spoke with Paul Magel, President of the Supply Chain Technology for the Fashion Industry at Computer Generated Solutions, about practical strategies to help brands navigate these changes and build more resilient operations.

Supply Chain 24/7: What are the biggest challenges fashion and apparel brands face as the new tariffs rollout?

Paul Magel: Tariffs are just another disruption in a long list of supply chain challenges from the past few years: a global pandemic, port strikes, geopolitical instability, and inflation. 

The biggest challenge for fashion and apparel brands isn’t just the immediate cost impact from tariffs but rather how they structure their supply chain to remain agile in the face of uncertainty. Many bran…

As President Donald Trump threatens tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China, and others, it has left supply chain professionals in a state of confusion about how they should react. Where should they go? What do they tell the CEO?

A recent post on LinkedIn suggested the best approach was to wait for the tariff and then raise your prices. The theory, the author explained, was that we couldn’t know which country might be next on the list of potential tariffs, so making a decision on where to move supply chains or switch suppliers would prove to be difficult.

Carla DeSantis, operations transformation partner at PwC, tends to agree to a point—it will be difficult to know where to go to avoid tariffs. So, she told Supply Chain Management Review that taking a holistic approach to supply chain management is the best path forward. Successful businesses, she argued, should not make critical supply chain or value chain decisions based solely on the impact of tariffs. Read more

Container ports play a crucial role in global trade, handling millions of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. In 2024, the Port of Los Angeles retained its position as North America's busiest container port, with over 9.3 million TEUs, while the Port of Long Beach followed closely with 8.7 million TEUs. The rankings, published on AJOT.com, highlight shifting trade flows, the resilience of major gateways, and the impact of major disruptions, such as the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.

Rank Port State 2024 TEUS Data/Date 1 Port of Los Angeles CA 9,375,735 2024 2 Port of Long Beach CA 8,788,718 Jan-Nov 3 Port of New York/New Jersey NY/NJ 7,290,743 Jan-Oct 4 Port of Savannah (GA ports) GA 5,103,417 Jan-Nov 5 Port of Houston TX 3,799,573 Jan-Nov 6 Port of Virginia VA 3,499,639 FY 2024 7 Port of Vancouver BC-CA 3,200,415 Jan-Nov 8 Port of Seattle-Tacoma (NWSA) WA 3,035,986 Jan-Nov 9 Port of Charleston SC 2,299,125 Jan-Nov 10 Por…

With the recent ILA-USMX labor negotiations behind us, the focus now shifts to their impact on supply chains and port operations. Brian Lynch, Transportation Sector Leader at EY Americas, discusses the effectiveness of pre-strike mitigation efforts, the long-term competitiveness of U.S. ports, and the role of automation in the industry.

Supply Chain 24/7: Looking back, how effective were the pre-strike mitigation efforts in minimizing disruptions to supply chains?

Brian Lynch: Leading companies put mitigation actions in place well in advance of the pending ILA strike date. Supply chain variability stemming from the global pandemic forced companies to become more agile and, in some cases, more risk-averse.

Companies have been able to dust off playbooks from the pandemic, from the 2023 ILWU (West Coast) labor actions and the October 2024 ILA labor action to minimize disruption.

SC247: Do you think the resolution can allow people to go back to b…

Over the past 12 hours, significant shifts have occurred in international trade involving the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China. Here's a quick rundown of the latest news.

United States, Canada, and Mexico Reach Temporary Agreement

President Donald Trump has agreed to postpone the imposition of a proposed 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico for 30 days. This decision follows negotiations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. As part of the agreement, Mexico will deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to its borders to combat drug trafficking and illegal immigration into the U.S. Similarly, Canada will increase its border security measures to prevent the flow of fentanyl into the United States. This pause aims to provide all parties with additional time to negotiate a more comprehensive trade deal and avert an immediate conflict.

China Retaliates Against U.S. Tariffs

In response to President Trump's imp…

Whether your company is a big or small player in terms of shipping volumes, and regardless of your chosen transportation modes (road, rail, ocean, air), the health of your bottom line depends in no small part on the competitiveness of your ocean freight prices.

As you will know, though, if you are active in freight and shipping management, your freight prices depend on many variables. So, how can you be sure you’re getting the best freight rates possible? The answer is to benchmark your freight, of course.

At Logistics Bureau, we want to help you with that, so we’re publishing this brief guide to help you if you haven’t already included freight benchmarking in your management strategies or want to benchmark more effectively than you are now. In addition, it will imbue you with some knowledge about best practices—and the secrets to ocean freight-benchmarking success.

Key Triggers for Freight Review

Before diving into benchmarking specifics, it’s crucial t…

The U.S. has imposed new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, sparking concerns about rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and potential retaliation from trade partners. Here's what you need to know:

The New Tariffs A 25% tariff has been placed on imports from Mexico and Canada. A 10% tariff applies to Canadian energy products. A 10% tariff targets goods from China. The tariffs take effect on February 4, 2025. Key Supply Chain Implications

1. Increased Costs for Manufacturers and Retailers

Many U.S. companies rely on materials, parts, and finished goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. Higher tariffs mean increased costs for businesses sourcing from these countries, which could be passed on to consumers.

2. Potential Disruptions in Automotive and Energy Sectors

3. Supply Chain Diversification Accelerates

Companies will likely accelerate efforts to diversify suppliers and reduce reliance on tariffed imports. This could lead…

The U.S. is set to implement 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on items coming from China on Saturday, Feb. 1, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.

Leavitt, when asked whether there would be any exceptions, said the full list would be available on Saturday.

“The president is intent on ensuring that he effectively implements tariffs while cutting inflation and costs for the American people,” Leavitt said. “If the president at any time decides to roll back those tariffs, I’ll leave it to him to make that decision. But starting tomorrow, those tariffs will be in place.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will react in a “forceful but reasonable” way.

“If the president does choose to implement any tariffs against Canada, we’re ready with a response—a purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response,” Trudeau reportedly told reporters on Friday, according to the Globe and…

China has overtaken Japan to claim the top spot in global ship ownership rankings, with a fleet valued at $255 billion, according to the latest Veson Nautical report. Rising demand for bulkers and container ships, combined with strong market conditions, helped push China ahead.

Japan now holds the second spot, even as its fleet value grew to $231.3 billion. The country remains dominant in LNG, LPG, and vehicle carriers and has shown steady investment in key maritime sectors.

Greece retains third place with the world’s most valuable tanker fleet, worth $71.3 billion. The U.S. remains in fourth place, largely thanks to its cruise industry, which accounts for $58.6 billion of its total fleet value of $116.4 billion.

Singapore, South Korea, and the U.K. hold spots five through seven, with fleet values rising in LPG, offshore support vessels, and tankers. Norway drops to eighth place, Switzerland reenters at ninth due to MSC’s container investments, and Germa…

Supply chain leaders can’t afford to sit back and wait when it comes to tariff changes. According to Gartner, new tariffs could shake up global trade for years, not months, and businesses that adapt will have a better shot at coming out ahead.

“Enterprises should recognize tariff volatility as a multiyear, dynamic event,” said Suzie Petrusic, Senior Director Analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice. “Chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) who recognize this reality should continually evaluate opportunities to invest in strengthening their operations and attract outside investments from geopolitical actors and ecosystem partners.”

The key, according to Gartner, is planning ahead. CSCOs must consider different scenarios, including policy shifts, countermeasures, and potential de-escalations. Waiting too long—or reacting too quickly—could put companies in a difficult position.

“CSCOs who anticipate that current tariff volatility will persist for years, rathe…

As President Donald Trump starts to enact his tariff plans, the global supply chain is bracing for significant challenges. These tariffs, aimed at reshoring manufacturing jobs and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, could drive up costs and force shifts in sourcing and production strategies. 

Rising Costs and Inflation Risks

Tariffs have historically led to increased supply chain costs. According to Gartner, 40% of organizations reported up to a 10% rise in costs during the 2020 U.S.-China trade disputes, with 25% seeing even higher impacts. “Although a far cry from percentages previously touted, a 10% U.S. tariff on Chinese imports will nonetheless increase electronic component pricing and have a disruptive impact upon the entire electronics supply chain,” said Richard Barnett, Chief Marketing Officer at Supplyframe.

Electronic components, particularly printed circuit boards (PCBs), heavily rely on Chinese production. Barnett explained that China…