Trade News

Hearings held Monday and continuing Wednesday by the U.S. Trade Representative have sparked major pushback from farmers, exporters, and shipping companies over a plan to impose steep fees on China-built ships calling at U.S. ports. The proposal, backed by President Donald Trump, aims to bring shipbuilding jobs back to the U.S. But critics say it could raise prices, shrink export markets, and hurt the very industries it's supposed to help.

The plan would charge Chinese-owned ships up to $1 million per port entry and Chinese-built vessels $1.5 million per entry. Some lawmakers and unions support the idea, but many in the shipping industry warn it could lead to supply chain chaos and drive business away from American ports.

“National interest will not be served if the effort to boost American shipbuilding unintentionally destroys American-owned carriers,” said Edward Gonzalez, CEO of Seaboard Marine, which operates 16 China-built vessels.

Far…

Small and mid-sized businesses are bracing for trouble as new tariffs loom, according to a new report from inventory management software provider Netstock. The company surveyed more than 120 of its U.S. customers to find out how they’re responding—and what’s keeping them up at night.

“By surveying our customers, we share real-world insights on how U.S. tariffs are impacting inventory planning,” said Ara Ohanian, CEO of Netstock. “It’s all about providing businesses with relevant data that can help them navigate the current challenging supply chain landscape.”

According to the 2025 Tariff Impact Report, 63% of SMBs expect a moderate to major hit from new tariffs. Rising costs are the biggest concern, with 70% listing it as their top challenge. Nearly 1 in 5 companies said more than 75% of their inventory is exposed to tariff risk.

When it comes to which countries pose the biggest concern, China leads the list. Nearly half of the respondents (47%) said the…

The European Union is responding to the Trump administration’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by announcing new duties on U.S. industrial and agricultural products. The EU’s move, which will affect about $28 billion worth of American goods, will be implemented in two phases: the first on April 1 and the second on April 13.

“We deeply regret this measure. Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business and even worse for consumers,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States.”

The EU’s response will hit a variety of U.S. products, including motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter, jeans, poultry, beef, and home appliances. Officials have made it clear that the tariffs are targeted at goods from Republican-led states, just as they were in previous trade disputes under Trump.

Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who recently traveled to Washington to prevent the trade …

FedEx has suddenly suspended economy parcel and freight services to Saudi Arabia from six major countries, including Brazil, India, Taiwan, Japan, China, and Great Britain. The company announced the decision on Monday without offering a specific reason for the halt.

Customers in these countries can no longer use FedEx’s economy shipping options to send packages to Saudi Arabia, though the company said priority services remain available. FedEx assured customers that the suspension was temporary and that services would resume as soon as possible, but it did not provide a timeline.

The move comes as FedEx continues making adjustments to its global operations. In June, the company said it would merge its Express, Ground, and Services divisions into a single unit. It recently announced plans to spin off FedEx Freight into a standalone public company. Additionally, FedEx has implemented a general rate increase for 2025, raising shipping costs across various…

Global trade regulations are constantly evolving, creating uncertainty for businesses. Tariffs shift, export restrictions tighten, and supply chains face growing risks. Companies must navigate these challenges strategically to avoid disruptions. In a recent episode of the SCMR podcast Frictionless Supply Chain, trade expert Karen Murphy provided insights into how organizations can manage compliance, mitigate risk, and adapt to changing trade policies. Here are three key takeaways for businesses looking to maintain stability in an unpredictable trade environment.

1. Trade Compliance Is More Than Just Paperwork

Many companies think of trade compliance as filling out forms and waiting for approvals. But as Murphy explains, it’s much bigger than that. Compliance extends to software, intellectual property, and even casual conversations with foreign nationals.

“There’s a misconception that trade compliance only applies to physical products,” Murphy said. “In reality,…

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has finished a seven-year project to replace all 592 original steel suspender ropes on the George Washington Bridge, the busiest bridge in the world. This marks a major milestone in the agency’s larger $2 billion rehabilitation program, Restoring the George, aimed at keeping the nearly 100-year-old bridge safe for the next century.

The steel suspender ropes, which connect the bridge deck to the main cables, had been in place since the bridge first opened in 1931. Replacing them wasn’t just a swap-out job — it took years of careful planning and construction work, all while keeping the bridge open to traffic the entire time.

“Replacing all 592 suspender ropes on the George Washington Bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering as we work to rehabilitate and renew nearly every major component of the world’s busiest bridge,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Over seven years, our teams diligently planned and w…

President Donald Trump announced he’s giving Mexico a temporary break from the new 25% tariffs that went into effect on Tuesday, saying the exemption will last until April 2. The break only applies to goods that follow the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) rules, the trade deal Trump signed during his first term.

Trump shared the news on Truth Social after talking with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. “I did this as an accommodation and out of respect for President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!” Trump posted.

Under USMCA, goods can move between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada without tariffs if they meet certain rules — like being mostly made in North America. For example, cars must be at least 75% North Americ…

Your Roadmap to Category Management Success in 2025

2025 will feel familiar, in some regards. The procurement and supply chain category management landscape will remain turbulent, with geopolitical tensions, worries over fresh tariffs and rising costs and supply chain disruptions posing significant challenges.

But you should also expect some lightning-fast changes in 2025 as artificial intelligence continues to upend the way enterprises and procurement, supply chain and category management professionals operate.

To prepare for all eventualities, grab your copy of the GEP Spend Category Outlook Report 2025. This must-have resource equips you with the insights you need to navigate this complex business environment. GEP’s team of experts provides a sneak peek into where 20 direct and indirect spend categories are headed in 2025.

During this podcast, Gross offered up various observations on the current state of the intermodal transportation market, on both a domestic and intermodal basis.

Topics covered included: new tariffs and their potential impact on intermodal; the current state of the freight economy; and the current state of intermodal service, among others. 

Larry Gross is a forty-year veteran of the freight transportation sector, and President of Gross Transportation Consulting in Durango, CO, an independent consulting practice specializing in freight transportation matters. He is the author and creator of “Intermodal in Depth,” an analytical report covering the intermodal sector.

Larry is an acknowledged expert on intermodal matters who makes frequent appearances before the transportation community. He has played a key role in the creation of educational content at the IANA Intermodal Expo for the past four years. He enjoys teaching and has authored …

According to a new Association of American Railroads (AAR) report, the U.S. freight rail industry generated $233.4 billion in total economic output in 2023. The report highlights freight rail’s vital role in supporting jobs, fueling trade, and keeping supply chains moving efficiently across the country.

Freight rail directly employed more than 153,000 workers last year, with those jobs supporting another 596,000 jobs in related industries. The industry supported nearly 750,000 jobs, delivering $66 billion in household income and contributing $25.1 billion in tax revenue.

The report also demonstrates freight rail’s role in global trade, noting that 38% of rail traffic is tied directly to imports and exports. This connection helps keep transportation costs lower for American businesses while ensuring efficient movement of goods between ports, factories, and distribution hubs.

“Freight railroads are the backbone of America’s supply …

Starting Tuesday, the U.S. will impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, following through on a threat from President Donald Trump that had been temporarily delayed. The decision comes after the administration concluded that both countries had not done enough to stop fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration into the U.S.

In addition to tariffs on North American imports, the administration also confirmed plans to add a new 10% tariff on imports from China, citing concerns over China's role in fentanyl exports. In response, China is preparing to retaliate with tariffs targeting U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, grains, and meats. This recent escalation has immediate and long-term consequences for supply chains across multiple sectors.

Automakers Rethink Manufacturing Strategies

The automotive sector, with its deep ties to North American cross-border supply chains, will feel the impact first. Honda has already announced plans to…

Many companies publicly appear to be adopting a wait-and-see approach to the looming risk of a tit-for-tat trade war. Yet beneath this surface-level calm, businesses are taking steps to mitigate potential disruptions. Western firms are rapidly accelerating plans to diversify their supply chains, especially for nearshore manufacturing, assembly, and distribution systems. European manufacturers remain especially vulnerable, as the sector has been contracting for nearly two years with no turnaround in sight, increasing pressure to protect domestic manufacturers from Asian imports.

In the U.S., where manufacturing accounts for just 12% of GDP, the greater concern is the potential revenue losses inside China from punitive actions - from sanctions to outright bans - and escalating trade tensions.

Drawing on our work with global companies across manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, software, technology, financial services, and a range …