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Cyber threats are now the number one concern for supply chain leaders, edging out tariffs in a new national survey of industry executives. The findings come from West Monroe’s latest Quarterly Supply Chain Poll, conducted March 18–24 across 250 executives in manufacturing, retail, and distribution.

When asked to rank the biggest risks facing their supply chains, 23% of respondents chose cybersecurity. Tariffs came in second at 20%, a notable result given the survey was completed just before President Trump announced plans for new reciprocal tariffs on imported goods.

The survey also found that 89% of companies made supply chain changes in the first quarter. More than half said they adjusted their product, materials, or sourcing mix. Only 11% said they made minimal or no changes.

AI adoption is also widespread. Ninety-eight percent of respondents said they implemented AI in their supply chain operations during Q1, but many say the return on that investmen…

The freight world was thrust into turmoil over President Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on freight transportation across both the Canadian and Mexican borders and as high as 35% on China and other countries.

It’s 10%, that is, except for auto parts, which got a 25% tariff. And then there are entire industries employing small armies of lobbyists who will formally petition the Trump administration for exemptions, changes, reductions and other fine-print alterations.

Confusion reigns. As Thomas Barkin, president of the Richmond Federal Reserve, told the New York Times, the entire, clumsy tariff procedure is “like driving through zero visibility, pull over and turn on your hazards’ type of fog.”

Businesses, large and small, have put their decision-making “on pause,” at least until the fog lifts. But it is vital that shippers develop a tariff management plan to capitalize on this confusing, unexpected development in world transport and trade.

In …

The U.S. trade landscape just changed dramatically. In a webinar held Thursday, Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen and VP of Customs Bernie Hart broke down what the new executive orders from the Trump administration really mean — including the end of the de minimis exemption, sweeping new tariffs under a “reciprocal” framework, and a warning to businesses: brace for disruption.

Here are five key takeaways from the discussion:

1. The End of De Minimis Shipping Will Upend E-Commerce

Starting May 2, all Chinese de minimis shipments under $800 will no longer be duty-free. A full global shutdown is expected soon after. “This is a big hitter across the industry,” Hart said. “We went from 100,000 entries a day to 4.1 million. Now all of that will require formal customs clearance.” Even smaller retailers using fulfillment hubs in Mexico or Canada will be impacted, as all duty-free shipments will soon require customs entry, additional data, and processing fees.

2. Reciproca…

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to close a trade loophole that allowed cheap packages from China and Hong Kong to enter the U.S. without paying duties.

The change ends the de minimis exemption for shipments worth $800 or less, starting May 2 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern. This move could have a major impact on online retailers like Shein and Temu, which rely on sending goods directly to U.S. shoppers without paying tariffs.

For shipments not sent through the international postal system, these goods will now be hit with regular duties. If they are sent through the postal system, they’ll face a flat fee of either 30% of the item’s value or $25 per item, whichever is more. That fee will go up to $50 after June 1.

Trump first signed an order to end the exemption on February 1 but paused it a week later due to logistical issues. “They figured it out,” a source familiar with the decision said. “De minimis is being stripped from China.” Read more

President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on imports, including a baseline 10% tariff on nearly all goods entering the U.S. and significantly higher rates for dozens of countries deemed to have unfair trade practices. The new policy, unveiled during a Rose Garden event the White House dubbed “Liberation Day,” marks a dramatic shift in U.S. trade strategy with far-reaching implications for global supply chains.

The baseline tariff will apply to goods from nearly every country except Canada and Mexico, whose compliant goods under the USMCA trade agreement are exempt. Goods from non-compliant USMCA sources will continue to be taxed at a 25% rate. The 10% tariff goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.

In addition, a set of “reciprocal tariffs” — calculated at half the rate foreign nations impose on U.S. exports — will take effect April 9. These higher rates target roughly 60 countries, including some of the United States’ largest trading par…

What will be driving freight in 2025? According to Keith Prather of Armada Corporate Intelligence, the freight landscape is being shaped by a complex mix of tariff concerns, smarter inventory planning, and steady retail demand. In a recent Logistics Management Podcast with Jeff Berman, Prather outlined five critical trends that every shipper should be monitoring:

1. Destocking Is Mostly Complete — But Freight Volumes Are Still Uncertain

After two years of inventory correction, Prather says the destocking cycle is finally over. “We knew the inventories were balanced and thought it would be a really good freight year,” he said. And January and February showed early promise.

But there’s a catch: some of that freight strength may have been pulled forward. “Companies were trying to get ahead of tariff risk,” Prather explained, adding that some freight activity expected in Q2 might have been pushed into Q1.

2. Tariff Fears May Have Shifted Demand Earlier

Betwe…

Tariffs are back, and this time the impact could be bigger than expected. Craig Reed, SVP of Global Trade at Avalara, says companies are confused, reactive, and unprepared for what’s coming next. In this Q&A, he shares what he’s hearing from global businesses, why the de minimis rule is being misunderstood, and what ripple effects we could see if China responds.

Supply Chain 24/7: What’s the biggest concern you’re hearing from businesses in response to recent tariff shifts?

Craig Reed: The best way I can describe the concern is overall uncertainty. Businesses are coming to us with a myriad of questions, spanning everything you can think of – rules of origin they’ve never had to think about before, breakdowns of what costs might look like, how to maintain compliance, and where exactly the points of disruption will be in their supply chains. The disruption is going to be large-scale, requiring nearly all organizations operating globally to adjust their busine…

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that, starting April 2, all imported cars and light-duty trucks will face a 25% tariff. Trump said the goal is simple: get automakers to build more vehicles in the U.S. and create more American jobs.

“You’re going to see prices coming down,” Trump said. “We’re already setting records for new plants.” He pointed to Honda’s decision to build the next-generation Civic in Indiana instead of Mexico as proof that the policy is already working.

The tariff only applies to vehicles made outside the U.S. Trump called the current system—where parts and cars are assembled across Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.—“ridiculous.” He also emphasized the new tariff is “permanent, 100%.”

Industry estimates say the average cost of an imported vehicle could rise by as much as $12,500. Even U.S.-made vehicles may go up in price because many still rely on foreign-made parts.

There may be some exemptions. A White House official said …

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…