Trade News

As new tariffs take hold under the second Trump administration, supply chain leaders are once again facing disruption. For retailers, the message is clear: reactive supply chains will struggle, but proactive ones can stay ahead.

According to Gartner’s Gerhard Grimm, retailers should align their operations with one of four supply chain profiles—each offering a different strategy for managing tariff risk.

Design: Retailers focused on innovation can reduce tariff exposure through product design and sourcing changes. That could mean switching to lower-duty materials or sourcing from countries with better trade terms. Durability: For companies committed to long-term sustainability, durability means investing in alternative sourcing and regional production. Some are using Foreign-Trade Zones or building partnerships with local farms to reduce their reliance on imports. Deferment: Retailers in highly tariff-sensitive sectors may choose to wait and see, holding off on bi…

DHL Express is stopping business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments over $800 headed to the U.S. starting Monday. The company announced the change in an email to customers, pointing to delays caused by new trade regulations that took effect earlier this month.

The rules, introduced by the U.S. government, lower the threshold for formal customs processing from $2,500 to $800. That means any shipment over $800 now requires more paperwork, including detailed documentation, tax ID numbers, and proof of origin.

DHL said it is suspending B2C shipments “until further notice” to manage the backlog. “The changes outlined above have caused a significant increase in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock,” the company told customers. “While we are working diligently to scale up and manage this increase, we are experiencing multi-day transit delays to the U.S. from any origin for shipments with a declared customs value exceeding USD 800.”

Sh…

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce are warning that the U.S. Trade Representative’s newly announced shipping tariffs could do more harm than good for American businesses, workers, and consumers.

On April 17, the USTR unveiled the results of its Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, outlining a series of aggressive new tariffs and fees. The phased measures target Chinese vessel owners and operators, as well as ships built in China. Additional tariffs, ranging from 20% to 100%, will apply to critical shipping infrastructure, including containers, chassis, and ship-to-shore cranes.

The AAFA, which testified and submitted comments opposing the proposal in March, said the consequences would be widespread.

“We are deeply concerned that the newly announced port fees and shipping mandates are destined to have devastating consequences for American workers, consumers, …

California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over sweeping new tariffs, calling them unconstitutional and damaging to both the state and the country. Standing alongside Attorney General Rob Bonta at an almond farm in the Central Valley, Newsom said, “No state is poised to lose more than the state of California. That’s why we’re asserting ourselves on behalf of 40 million Americans.”

The lawsuit argues that President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose a 10% across-the-board tariff on imports—and even higher rates for countries like China—is illegal because the law doesn’t give the president the power to enact tariffs without Congress. “Trump claims this law is the reason he can impose these tariffs, and he is wrong,” Bonta said. “The truth is the IEEPA does not apply here.”

Newsom, who has generally kept a distance from Trump’s legal fights in the past, said the economic fallo…

Let’s be honest. Tariffs used to be background noise — a slow-moving policy lever that rarely disrupted day-to-day supply chain operations. But that’s no longer the case. In recent weeks, a new wave of U.S. tariffs has brought a level of unpredictability few supply chain leaders were prepared for.

They’re arriving fast, shifting frequently, and targeting a wide range of goods—from raw materials to finished products. This isn’t just a sourcing issue anymore—it’s a full-chain disruption, and most teams are still racing to adapt.

Tariffs Are Creating a New Cost Baseline

When landed costs jump 30 to 40 percent overnight, absorbing the hit isn’t an option. Tariffs are inflating costs across the board — from raw materials and transportation to packaging and components.

Pricing teams are left to decide whether to pass the increase to customers, compress margins, or overhaul their pricing structure entirely. But traditional approaches don’t scale. Long-term B2B …

The Port of Long Beach is officially the busiest port in the United States for the first quarter of 2025. Driven by a surge in imports ahead of anticipated tariffs, the port saw a 26.6% increase in cargo volumes compared to the same period in 2024. Dock workers and terminal operators moved 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the year's first three months.

In March alone, the Port of Long Beach handled 817,457 TEUs, a 25% jump from March 2024. Imports rose by 25.8%, reaching 380,562 TEUs, while exports dipped slightly by 1% to 104,063 TEUs. Empty container volumes also increased, up 35% to 332,832 TEUs. This marks the port’s 10th consecutive month of year-over-year cargo growth.

“We are leading the way as the nation’s busiest port by ensuring the fastest, most efficient delivery of cargo from our docks to anywhere in the United States,” said Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach. “Our investments in state-of-the-art, modern facilities a…

With the Donald Trump administration in the U.S. imposing tariffs on imports from China, Mexico and Canada, companies across the globe are preparing for tariff wars and input cost escalations while also looking for cost-mitigation strategies. 

These new tariffs are expected to increase costs for raw materials and components, compelling businesses to reassess sourcing and production strategies. Industries such as automotive, clean energy, and consumer goods are particularly vulnerable, facing potential disruptions and higher expenses. 

The uncertainty surrounding these tariffs complicates long-term planning, as companies must navigate fluctuating trade policies and potential retaliatory actions.

For Those Who Have Failed to Plan Ahead

We don’t know yet if the tariffs will continue to remain in force or get diluted as a result of reciprocal tariffs. But irrespective of how the scenario turns out, planning ahead will help enterprises navigate the …

Retail sales increased in March after two straight monthly declines. Still, the growth was likely driven by consumers rushing to buy goods before new tariffs took effect, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor powered by Affinity Solutions.

Total retail sales, excluding automobiles and gasoline, were up 0.6% month over month and 4.75% year over year in March. Core retail sales, which also exclude restaurants, rose 0.4% month over month and 5.07% year over year.

The gains came before President Trump announced on April 2 a new 10% baseline tariff on all imports and “reciprocal” tariffs targeting dozens of countries. Some consumers, anticipating higher prices, began stocking up in early March. A survey conducted for the National Retail Federation found that 46% of shoppers said they were buying items like appliances and clothing ahead of potential price hikes.

“Retail sales increased in March but only moderately, and the spending came before the pr…

Johns Hopkins University has received a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Defense to help strengthen the U.S. prescription drug supply chain. Dr. Mariana Socal, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Carey Business School, is leading the project.

The goal is to avoid future drug shortages by closely examining how medications are made, where they come from, and how decisions are made about buying, investing, and regulations. The funding is part of a broader effort by the Department of Defense to ensure that essential medications remain available to both military and civilian populations.

“The pandemic laid bare the vulnerabilities in the U.S.’s public health system overall and the pharmaceutical drug supply chain in particular,” said Socal. “During the pandemic, there were significant disruptions in the manufacturing and distribution of a wide range of pharmaceuticals that are used to treat everything from c…

Smartphones, computers, and other electronics will be spared from the steep tariffs President Donald Trump announced earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in guidance released late Friday night.

The move comes after concerns from Apple and other tech companies that rely on China to manufacture their products. Trump’s 145% tariff on Chinese imports sparked fears that prices for phones and laptops would soar. Apple alone lost more than $600 billion in market value in the days after the tariffs were announced.

According to the new guidance, electronics like semiconductors, solar cells, flash drives, and memory cards will also be exempt. The change applies to products brought into the U.S. since April 5.

“This is the dream scenario for tech investors. Smartphones and chips being excluded is a game-changer when it comes to China tariffs,” Dan Ives, Global Head of Tech esearch at Wedbush Securities, told CNBC.

He added, “I thi…

A new report from Ascential Medical & Life Sciences reveals that 69% of manufacturers have adopted some form of automation, but only 9% have fully integrated it across operations. Meanwhile, 42% of companies cite regulatory compliance as the top barrier to commercialization, and 56% say high labor and operational costs block reshoring efforts.

These findings come from the company’s 2025 State of the Industry Report, Automate, Innovate, Adapt. The report draws on exclusive survey data and expert analysis to highlight key trends in medical and life sciences manufacturing.

The report also identifies personalized medicine as a rising operational challenge, with 31% of respondents naming it the most difficult trend to manage in 2025.

“The medical and life sciences manufacturing sector is at the forefront of global healthcare innovation,” said Anupam Girdhar, CEO of Ascential Medical & Life Sciences. “Companies must learn to navigate a complex landscap…

Amazon is considering a $15 billion warehouse expansion plan that would add approximately 80 new logistics facilities across U.S. cities and rural areas, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The proposed facilities would primarily be delivery hubs, with some including large, automated fulfillment centers. The company is currently seeking proposals from capital partners and is reportedly open to long-term leases ranging from 15 to 25 years. Select locations could potentially receive direct investment from Amazon.

“Meetings like this with our capital partners are routine and part of the normal due diligence process, as we consider potential, future projects,” said Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly. He added that the projects remain under discussion and have not been finalized.

If the plan moves forward, it would mark Amazon’s return to warehouse development after a pandemic-era construction boom followed by a pullback. During…