Trade News

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…

Not long after President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that the United States would implement 25% tariffs on U.S.-bound imports from Canada and Mexico, effective February 1, he subsequently said that the nation would also levy a 10% tariff on U.S.-bound imports from China.

A Reuters report indicated that the impetus for the tariffs on China is due to fentanyl is being sent from China to the U.S. via Mexico and Canada.

In posts made on his Truth Social platform in late November, Trump said that, effective January 20, when he takes office, he would sign an Executive Order, calling for a 25% tariff on all U.S.-bound imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on all U.S.-bound imports from China.

Earlier this week, Trump directed federal agencies to study trade relationships with China, Canada, and Mexico, the three largest U.S trading partners, he made it clear he would implement new, or incr…

Sea freight prices could drop by as much as 25% within a few months if Red Sea attacks are controlled, DP World's deputy chief executive told Reuters. The shipping giant emphasized the impact of disruptions caused by Houthi attacks on vessels, which have forced companies to reroute ships around Africa, significantly increasing costs.

Since November 2023, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces have targeted over 100 ships in the Red Sea. According to the report, these attacks have created widespread safety concerns and led to rising freight prices as companies avoid the area. Narayan believes stopping these attacks would allow vessels to resume using the Red Sea and Suez Canal, cutting transportation costs. “If we can stabilize the region, we could see prices falling by 20 to 25% within the next two to three months,” he said.

To address the disruptions, the U.S. has taken action against entities linked to the Houthis. On January 17, the U.S. sanct…

A new study by Descartes Systems Group highlights how supply chain leaders rely on technology to manage rising global trade complexities. Of the 978 leaders surveyed, 74% see technology as a critical part of their growth strategy, with this number increasing to 88% for companies forecasting over 15% growth in the next two years. Key challenges cited include tariffs, trade barriers, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty.

Global trade intelligence was identified as the most valuable technology for the next two years, with 36% of respondents ranking it first. This was followed by global trade analytics (27%) and supply chain mapping (26%). Industries such as manufacturing, wholesale, finance, and retail ranked global trade intelligence as the leading tool for adding value to their operations.

“For companies in diverse industries, global trade has become much more complex, with many new challenges to traditional business operations,” said Jackson W…

PITT OHIO, a leading transportation and logistics company, has announced a new express less-than-truckload (LTL) service to six key cities along the Texas border. Shipments will be consolidated at their Cincinnati terminal and then sent directly to Laredo, El Paso, McAllen, Brownsville, Eagle Pass, and Del Rio. PITT OHIO is partnering with Averitt Express for the final delivery leg.

“This operational setup brings significant improvements over the traditional hub and spoke system utilized by many national carriers,” said PITT OHIO’s EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Geoff Muessig, “By consolidating freight at a single terminal and dispatching directly to the destination cities, we reduce handling, thereby minimizing the risk of damages, shortages, or lost freight. Our streamlined approach ensures faster transit times, offering superior service levels compared to most national carriers.”

Muessig also highlighted the environmental benefits, stating that m…

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump is holding off on imposing new tariffs. Instead, he is directing federal agencies to study trade relationships with China, Canada, and Mexico. According to an incoming administration official, a memo set to be issued Monday will focus on trade deficits, unfair trade practices, and currency issues.

Trump, who had pledged steep tariffs during his campaign, including a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and a 25% surcharge on imports from Canada and Mexico, is taking a more measured approach. The memo will assess compliance with the 2020 trade deal with China and review the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is set for evaluation in 2026.

“Some duties would tear up long-standing trade agreements and threaten to upend supply chains,” said trade experts, emphasizing the potential fallout from immediate tariffs. However, the memo signals a slower process, with investigat…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed a new rule to improve the tracking and management of low-value shipments, also known as de minimis shipments. The rule, Entry of Low-Value Shipments (ELVS), would require importers to provide more information about these packages. CBP says this change will make it easier to spot illegal shipments such as counterfeit goods, dangerous drugs, and other contraband.

“Every day, the men and women of CBP interdict goods that threaten the health and safety of Americans as well as the economic vitality of our country,” said Pete R. Flores, CBP’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. “This proposed rule will help to give us some of the tools we need to address more of these threats.”

CBP currently processes over 4 million low-value shipments into the U.S. daily, but existing rules don’t require much data from importers. This lack of information makes it harder for CBP to identify high-risk shipmen…

Topics covered in this podcast included: how the concept and practice of ReGlobalization evolves from traditional globalization; the impact of tariffs on logistics planning and operations; and implications of Artificial Intelligence within logistics, among others. 

Jim Tompkins is an international authority on designing and implementing end-to-end supply chains. He has started 15 businesses that have done over $2 billion in worldwide revenue during his 50-year career, has worked with private equity, designed countless industrial facilities and supply chain solutions, and enhanced the profitable growth of numerous companies, giving him an insider’s view into what makes great companies even better.

In 2020, he founded Tompkins Ventures LLC, a global hands-on solutions network that helps companies address the five major factors for business success: Leadership, Capital, Technology, Supply Chain/Facilities and Procurement. He previously spent 40+ years as foun…

Now that the 2024 U.S. election is behind us, U.S. companies have a lot of questions about what international trade and trade compliance might look like in 2025 and beyond.

Post-election transitions always bring uncertainty, especially around potential shifts in Washington’s trade policies. And that seems to be even more true this year, with tariffs being a major plank in the winning party’s platform.

In the meantime, there is daily news about possible trade actions that the new administration will take or consider. Keeping up with the latest news and speculation is difficult, but staying compliant in an ever-changing trade environment can be time-consuming and costly.

How U.S. importers consider and prepare for international trade in 2025 depends on actions taken and how tariffs and other trade restrictions are implemented. Let’s take a few vital areas into closer consideration and explore a few possibilities and how shippers can prepare.

Trade reme…