Trade News

President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again threat of major tariffs on the United States’ closest allies, Canada and Mexico, have earned the thumbs down from freight officials and financial interests.

Trump’s directive by tariff – “WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!)” – wore thin on freight and financial experts longing for stability in markets and crucial consistency from an inconsistent lame-duck president.

Even the hard-right conservative editorial page of the Wall Street Journal – usually a reliable barometer of right-wing world – slammed Trump’s latest tariff threats by entitling an editorial on the subject: “The Dumbest Trade War Fallout Begins.”

Markets yo-yo’d after Trump first announced tariffs between 10 and 25 percent on Mexico and Canada – our Nos. 1 and 3 largest trading partners – before backing down during a 30-day cooling off period. It’s Trump’s second round with tariffs, after trying them on assorted countrie…

A.P. Moller-Maersk has signed an agreement with India’s Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to develop ship repair, maintenance, and shipbuilding operations in India. The deal is a major step toward India’s long-term goal of becoming a leading player in global shipbuilding and repair.

As part of the partnership, Maersk will send its first vessel for repair at Cochin Shipyard in 2025. “The first Maersk vessel repair at CSL, planned already for 2025, will mark the beginning of what we envisage as a long-term collaborative relationship,” said Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management & Technology at Maersk.

The partnership comes at a time when ship repair facilities worldwide are under pressure due to high demand. By working together, Maersk and CSL plan to expand India’s role in global shipping while supporting the country’s Vision 2047 plan to boost maritime growth.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in CSL’s journey as the leading ship repaire…

Mexico’s recent tariff policies are targeting “border-skipping,” a strategy where U.S. e-commerce sellers import goods—mainly from China—through Mexico under lower duties before shipping them to the U.S. To close this loophole, Mexico has raised import duties up to 35% on apparel, textiles, and household goods, restricted temporary imports under the IMMEX program, and imposed new tariffs on non-USMCA imports.

These changes are driving up costs, complicating logistics, and forcing businesses to rethink their supply chain strategies. Matt Muenster, Chief Economist at Breakthrough, explains how these policies are reshaping freight flows, influencing spot rates, and what companies can do to stay ahead.

Supply Chain 24/7: How are Mexico’s recent tariff policies, particularly the decree targeting “border-skipping,” impacting U.S.-Mexico trade flows?

Matt Muenster: Mexico’s new decree specifically targets ‘border-skipping,’ where U.S. e-commerce sellers b…

The container shipping industry is navigating a volatile landscape, with major concerns over when the Suez Canal will fully reopen and how new U.S. tariffs will impact global trade. A recent survey from Drewry shows most industry insiders expect Suez transits to resume by the end of 2025, while bracing for additional trade restrictions under Donald Trump’s administration.

Suez Canal Disruptions Continue

More than half (54%) of respondents in the Drewry survey believe full-scale Suez Canal transits will resume before the end of 2025, while 29% think it could take until 2026. The blockade, caused by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has forced container ships to reroute around Africa, cutting global shipping capacity by about 9%. Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, is optimistic about a recovery by mid-year—if the Gaza ceasefire holds.

However, that outlook is becoming more uncertain. After the survey closed, Trump urged Israel to abandon the ce…

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…