After years of tit-for-tat tariff hikes, the United States and China have stepped back from the brink, but they have not gone back to “normal.” Recent gestures following talks between President Trump and President Xi in Busan, South Korea, have cooled the temperature, trimmed some tariffs, and paused a few escalation triggers. Yet for shippers, importers, and exporters, landed costs on China–US trade lanes remain … Read More
The scale of the counterfeit problem this holiday season
CBP and its enforcement partners seize tens of millions of counterfeit items every year, from apparel and electronics to cosmetics, toys, and even medicines. In its most recent update, CBP reported seizing nearly 79 million counterfeit items in a single fiscal year, with a notional retail value in the billions if those goods had been genuine. Counterfeit clothing, consumer electronics, toys, and medications were among … Read More
Port of Oakland Faces Volume Fluctuations Amid Global Trade Changes
The Port of Oakland, a critical gateway for U.S.-Asia trade, is experiencing significant shifts in cargo volumes due to evolving tariffs and trade policies. These changes are altering shipping patterns, prompting companies to reevaluate supply chain strategies and port utilization. Recent tariff adjustments have increased costs for certain imports, influencing the volume of goods moving through Oakland. As carriers adjust routes to optimize profitability, shippers … Read More
China’s growth slows as Trump tariff war and property slump bite
China’s growth trajectory has weakened as two powerful forces converge: an intensified tariff campaign from the United States and the ongoing drag from a troubled property market. Together, these factors are reducing domestic consumption, slowing investment, and altering patterns of global trade, with real consequences for shipping volumes, routing decisions, and inventory strategies worldwide. For supply-chain and logistics leaders, the shift is practical, not theoretical. … Read More
U.S.–Colombia Relations at Risk: Trump Threatens New Tariffs
In a sudden escalation that rippled through global trade headlines, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would end aid to Colombia and impose new tariffs on Colombian exports. The announcement followed public accusations that Colombian President Gustavo Petro had failed to curb drug production, a claim Petro strongly rejected as “an attack on national sovereignty.” What might appear to be a diplomatic dispute is … Read More
US Plans 100% Tariffs On China And How Beijing Is Responding
President Trump said the U.S. will impose an additional 100% tariff on all imports from China, citing a “mineral trade dispute” after Beijing tightened controls on rare-earth exports. In his announcement, he indicated the move could begin “November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions…)”, a signal to importers that policy risk is now immediate, not theoretical. Other major outlets report the same … Read More
Compliance Alert: India Imports Now Face 50% Tariffs
On August 27, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, a new trade measure from the White House takes effect: imports from India will now face a total tariff of 50% when entering the United States. This includes: An additional 25% tariff announced on August 26, 2025, in response to India’s continued importation and resale of Russian Federation oil. The existing 25% tariff already applied under Executive … Read More
The End of U.S. Duty‑Free De Minimis
The White House has issued a sweeping executive order that eliminates the longstanding “de minimis” duty-free exemption for low-value imports, effective August 29, 2025. Under 19 U.S.C. §1321(a)(2)(C), shipments valued at $800 or less per person per day were previously allowed into the U.S. without duties or formal customs processing. CBP reports that the volume of de minimis shipments grew from 134 million in 2015 to more than 1.36 billion in 2024. However, … Read More
Reciprocal Tariffs: Current Details as of July 31
Although the reciprocal tariffs are slated to take effect on Aug. 1, the most up‑to‑date information comes from the July 31 announcement. Annex II of the executive order issued at that time lists each affected country and the percentage of additional duty that will be added to its existing Harmonized Tariff Schedule rate. For every country‑specific entry the order repeats the same conditions: the additional duty does not … Read More
U.S. Customs User Fees to Adjust on October 1, 2025
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced upcoming adjustments to select customs user fees, including changes to the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) for formal entries, effective October 1, 2025. These changes are being implemented in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which authorizes annual inflation-based fee updates. What’s Changing? While the MPF ad valorem rate of 0.3464% will remain unchanged, … Read More