21 Jan 2025

Trump’s America First Trade Policy: Key Actions and What They Mean for U.S. Commerce

  President Trump released his memorandum on an America First Trade Policy that did not immediately result in “day one” additional tariffs on any country, but it is a top-to-bottom review of every possible action the U.S. could take against a country that is trading unfairly or burdening U.S. commerce based on existing laws. A […]

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19 Nov 2024

Importers Face Record Rail Delays at LA-Long Beach Ports Amid 2-Year High Container Dwell Times

Rail container dwell times at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach reached their highest levels in two years last month and are expected to stay elevated through January. This surge is driven by higher-than-usual import volumes, partially due to cargo diversions from the East and Gulf Coasts. In October, containers destined for rail […]

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18 Oct 2024

Global Ripple Effects of ILA Strike

    The recent three-day strike by dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports is set to cause a delayed reduction in capacity on certain trade lanes and may impact cargo frontloading ahead of a possible work stoppage in January, according to container shipping analyst Lars Jensen. Although the strike lasted only from October 1-3, […]

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04 Oct 2024

Ports Reopen: ILA End Strike with Wage Offer, Contract Extension.

  After weeks of contentious negotiations, maritime employers and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) have reached a tentative deal to reopen container terminals at East and Gulf coast ports. The agreement includes a substantial wage increase for dockworkers and a three-month contract extension while formal negotiations continue. The breakthrough, announced Thursday evening, comes after the […]

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01 Oct 2024

East Coast Port Strike Begins, Sparking Fears of Shortages and Price Increases

As of 12:01 A.M., October 1st, 2024, the long-anticipated strike by the ILA (the International Longshoremen’s Association) has officially begun, leading to a complete shutdown of all U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports until further notice. This development means that no cargo can move in or out of these ports. Our sources indicate that the […]

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06 Jun 2024

Navigating Container Shortages in 2024: Implications for North American Intermodal

The global supply chain is facing an unexpected challenge in 2024: a shortage of containers. Despite the significant capacity added by ocean carriers, recent reports and spot prices indicate that container scarcity is a reality. But what does this mean for North American intermodal transportation, and could it lead to a repeat of the chaos […]

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05 Jun 2024

China’s Trade Surplus: Undervalued Yuan or Something Else?

The debate over China’s manufacturing overcapacity has ignited intense discussions among policymakers. During her trip to China in April, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen raised concerns about the impact of “artificially cheap Chinese products flooding the global market,” questioning the sustainability of foreign firms, echoing similar concerns from a decade ago. Yellen’s observation holds […]

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04 Jun 2024

Deja Vu: Container Shipping Market Faces Repeat of Pandemic Chaos

  The container shipping industry is experiencing a worrying trend – a repeat of the supply chain disruptions that plagued the world during the pandemic. This shortage of ships, coupled with high demand, threatens to send shipping rates soaring and cause significant delays. Unless there’s a quick turnaround, freight rates could skyrocket, potentially reaching a […]

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31 May 2024

CBP Suspends Low-Value Shipment Access for Several Customs Brokers

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has suspended access for several customs brokers to the Type 86 program, which facilitates low-value import shipments. This voluntary initiative allows consignees to have their customs brokers provide CBP with data filed through the agency’s automated broker interface (ABI) under the de minimis rule. The de minimis rule […]

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01 Feb 2024

Anticipated Shifts in 2024 US Container Import Patterns Aligning with Key Sourcing

The slight shifts in the percentage of containerized imports from China to the United States align with three major trends acknowledged by both the business and geopolitical communities: China Plus One, incremental gains in friendshoring by volume, and an increased reliance on Vietnam and India. To mitigate their dependence on China, US retailers and other […]

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