The wait is over. After weeks of speculation and debate, President Donald J. Trump has officially imposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. These sweeping measures, effective today, mark a bold move in the administration’s effort to tackle drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and trade imbalances. While the world watched, markets braced for impact, businesses scrambled to adjust, and global leaders weighed their responses. … Read More
Potential ILA Strike Threatens Supply Chains – Are You Ready?
The negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have hit a significant impasse, driven by disagreements over port automation. After walking away from talks in November 2024, the ILA has warned of a potential strike if their demands are not met before the January 15, 2025 deadline. The ILA’s stance remains firm, and a strike could lead to … Read More
Rate Increases Expected Due to Potential East Coast Strikes
With the looming threat of labor unrest on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, the shipping industry is bracing for significant rate increases. Several major carriers, including Evergreen, HMM, CMA CGM, Maersk, and Yang Ming, have issued announcements about impending surcharges designed to mitigate the operational disruptions expected if strikes or other labor-related slowdowns materialize. These rate hikes, set to take effect in mid-to-late … Read More
CBP’s Role in Securing Cargo Imports
In the realm of international trade, the smooth flow of goods across borders is essential for economic growth and prosperity. At the forefront of ensuring the security and integrity of this process is the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Recent developments in the world of cargo importation have brought to light various trends and challenges that CBP is navigating to uphold its mandate effectively. … Read More
Inland Container Congestion in Chicago and Dallas
Inland congestion is causing a major supply chain disruption among the nation’s busiest ports due to a severe chassis shortage, causing an influx of containers to pile up in Chicago, Dallas, Memphis and Kansas City. This is an ongoing issue, which has only been exacerbated due to an influx of inventory overflowing already full warehouses. As a result, Union Pacific Railroad (UP) has been stacking … Read More
The upcoming challenges for the ocean logistics industry in 2022
The most popular strategies in the global ocean logistics industry for 2022 are to avoid the spot market, go for diverse sourcing, and hold more inventories. This was revealed in the recent survey carried out by Container xChange, with more than 800 logistics players as participants worldwide.