Trade News

Since Donald J. Trump was re-elected President earlier this week, tariffs have received considerable attention.

As previously reported, Trump repeatedly said on the campaign trail that he plans to increase the percentage of tariffs levied on companies importing into the United States, from where they have remained since they were implemented in 2018, during his first term in office. To that end, he has said he is committed to imposing a 10%-to-20% tariff on all imports regardless of what country they come from, and 60% or higher on goods entering the U.S. from China.

When the Trump administration first rolled out its plan in mid-2018, it was comprised of a 25% tariff on $50 billion worth of goods imported from China, under the purview of an “America First” policy geared towards a more fair and beneficial position for U.S. companies, as well as focusing on: protecting domestic property and intellectual property; stopping noneconomic transfers of indust…

With former President Donald J. Trump winning back the White House, it is clear that the supply chain and freight logistics markets are in for some changes on various fronts.

The topic that received the most attention in the run-up to the election focused on tariffs, in terms of what may be coming, with Trump repeatedly saying on the campaign trail that he plans to increase the percentage of tariffs levied on companies importing into the United States, from where they have remained since they were implemented in 2018, during his first term in office. To that end, he has said he is committed to imposing a 10%-to-20% tariff on all imports regardless of what country they come from, and 60% or higher on goods entering the U.S. from China.

When the Trump administration first rolled out its plan in mid-2018, it was comprised of a 25% tariff on $50 billion worth of goods imported from China, under the purview of an “America First” policy geared towards a more fair and…

Canada’s west coast ports, including Vancouver and Prince Rupert, faced significant disruptions as dock foremen were locked out by the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA). The lockout began late Monday after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 issued a 72-hour strike notice and began limited strike actions earlier in the day. The BCMEA justified the move as necessary to “facilitate a safe and orderly wind-down of operations” due to the unpredictable nature of strike action. While grain and cruise operations remain unaffected, the lockout impacts most cargo activities at these ports.

According to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the West Coast ports handle an estimated $576 million in daily trade. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen have called on the federal government to intervene and use binding arbitration in future disputes.

“Alberta is a landlocked province that rel…

The Port of Montreal will face a 24-hour strike starting Sunday, October 27, after longshore workers issued a strike notice to the Maritime Employers Association (MEA). The stoppage, set to last from 7 a.m. on Sunday to 6:59 a.m. on Monday, will halt work across the port, including at the Contrecœur terminal.

Longshore workers, represented by CUPE Local 375, have been without a collective agreement since December 31. Tensions have been high since a three-day strike in September that disrupted nearly half of Montreal’s port activities. Another ongoing strike since October 10 has further restricted port operations by halting all overtime work.

MEA emphasized the impact of these strikes, noting, “The strike called on 30 September by the union paralyzed operations for three days at the Viau and Maisonneuve (Termont) terminals, which represent 41% of the Port of Montreal’s activities, resulting in lasting consequences. The strike that began October 10, 2024, which c…

COSCO SHIPPING Ports has expanded its presence in Southeast Asia by acquiring stakes in two major terminals at Thailand's Laem Chabang Port. The company purchased 12.5% of Thai Laemchabang Terminal (TLT) and 30% of Hutchison Laemchabang Terminal (HLT) for a total of $110 million. These terminals are the largest operators in Laem Chabang, Thailand’s largest deep-water port and the main international container hub, responsible for about 80% of the country's container throughput.

The acquisition includes Berth A2 at TLT and Berths A3, C1-C2, and D1-D3 at HLT. Some of these berths are still under construction, and once fully operational, the combined facilities will have an annual handling capacity of approximately 6.7 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

Laem Chabang Port, located about 60 nautical miles southeast of Bangkok, is crucial to Thailand's trade and logistics infrastructure. It is also a key part of the Eastern Economic Corridor, a government in…

CSX Corporation and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) have received approval from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to establish a new railway connecting Mexico, Texas, and the Southeast U.S. This new connection, announced in an October 17 press release, is expected to improve shipping efficiency and market access in the region.

The approved deal involves the acquisition of rail lines operated by Genesee & Wyoming's Meridian & Bigbee Railroad (MNBR). Under the agreement, CPKC will operate a 52-mile segment between Meridian, Mississippi, and Myrtlewood, Alabama, while CSX will manage the lines east of Myrtlewood. This creates a direct Class I interchange between the two railroads near Myrtlewood, Alabama, allowing for improved service to shippers in these important markets.

“With this new east-west Class I route, we are creating competition, providing a service that will take more trucks off the road, and growing rail transportation by e…

As procurement and supply chain teams continue to adjust to inflation and cost pressures, the United States is gearing up for a significant presidential election. Regardless of the outcome, the results will undoubtedly impact businesses and supply chains—potentially driving global market volatility.

C-suite executives are already highly attuned to geopolitical uncertainty. According to an Economist Impact survey, one out of three C-suite executives identify geopolitical impacts as the top concern for organizational risk in the next 12-18 months. These abrupt changes place supply chains in the spotlight, as teams must guide their companies through unforeseen scenarios.

One concern is the recent strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), which represents 45,000 workers at multiple major ports on the East Coast. While a drawn-out interruption has been avoided, businesses moving materials and products through these sites must have …

While there is a sense of relief sweeping over the United States supply chain and, by extension, the economy, following a tentative agreement struck late yesterday by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), port operations will not immediately return to normal. However, the situation did not fully escalate to the levels that many industry stakeholders had cautiously expected.

With the strike lasting only the better part of three days, current levels of port congestion, vessels at anchor, and increasing dwell times resulting from the brief strike need to be addressed. This is especially important considering that one week of port disruption typically leads to at least one month of delays, which increase as cargo moves inland.

That was the word from Mia Ginter, director of North American ocean shipping at C.H. Robinson.

Ginter explained that the U.S. West Coast, the Canada gateway, and non-ILA port…

One day after dockworkers at 36 United States-based East and Gulf Coast ports, from Maine to Texas, officially walked off the job—when a deal between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) could not be struck by 12:00 AM ET on October 1—the National Retail Federation (NRF), in conjunction with more than 270 trade associations representing manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, penned a letter to President Biden, calling for the White House to intervene in an effort to bring the strike to an end.

Copied on the letter were various White House Cabinet members and officials, including: Copied on the letter were various White House Cabinet members and officials, including:

Julie Su, Acting Secretary, Department of Labor; Pete Buttigieg, Secretary, Departmen…

Recent changes in the automotive industry have given way to a seismic shift. Supply chain struggles, the rise of online marketplaces, and increasing consumer expectations have forced a new focus on the customer experience. Today’s automotive dealerships need to evolve to build and maintain loyalty among buyers.

With these struggles comes great opportunity: automotive dealers that deliver a strong, holistic customer experience from start to finish will win big. In our e-book, we share new strategies and tools to help build customer loyalty.

Learn how your dealership can evolve your focus on customers in our e-book. You’ll find:

How to create a holistic customer journey Strategies to ease EV growing pains Tools to build long-term loyalty Download this e-book to learn how your dealership can thrive in the face of today’s challenges.

Attempting to pitch a dubious finance-and-insurance product will hinder the overall F&I presentation at an auto dealership, a product provider trainer warns.

"When I work with F&I managers, one of the things I say is 'If you don't believe in a product, don't offer it,'" Mike Connelly, director of training and development for Smart AutoCare, told the Ethical F&I Managers Conference on Sept. 20 in Las Vegas. Doing so will destroy the finance manager's credibility for all of the products, not just the offending item, he said.

"Every other part of your presentation will be weaker because you have in your head, 'I've got to offer this product, and I think it's stupid,'" Connelly said. "It poisons it."

The customer will detect an F&I manager's stress and their disinterest and start "poking holes" in the F&I presentation, Connelly said.

Have a good F&I tip to share? Email John Huetter at [email protected] and Paige Hodder at …

AutoNation Inc. has followed two rivals into the bidding war for Pendragon, the large auto retailer in the United Kingdom that just a week ago looked poised to be sold to Lithia Motors Inc.

In a Tuesday regulatory filing, Pendragon said it received an unsolicited proposal from AutoNation to acquire the company for 32 pence, or 39 cents, per share in cash.

AutoNation, also in a regulatory filing on Tuesday, confirmed that it submitted a non-binding preliminary proposal for Pendragon but said there can be no certainty as to whether it will make a binding offer for Pendragon.

AutoNation said it will make a "further announcement if and when appropriate." An AutoNation spokesperson referred Automotive News to the 8-K filing.

Reuters valued the AutoNation offer at $544.2 million.

Pendragon, in the filing, said its board will consider the proposal and "provide an update in due course."

Lithia on Sept. 18 said it planned to buy Pendragon…