07 May 2025

Shippers Turn to FTZs to Shield High-Value Goods

US shippers are increasingly turning to foreign trade zones (FTZs) as a potential solution to offset the cost of Trump administration tariffs on high-value goods and merchandise. However, limited storage capacity and administrative complexity make FTZs far from a guaranteed fix. FTZs are specially designated domestic areas, usually near a port of entry, where high-value […]

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25 Mar 2025

Rising Cargo Crime Spurs Urgent Call for Federal Task Force and Tougher Penalties

With cargo theft and fraud on the rise, transportation and shipping organizations are urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation that would create a multi-agency federal task force to tackle cargo crime and strengthen penalties against offenders. The primary legislation in focus is the Safeguarding Our Supply Chains Act, introduced in June, alongside […]

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24 Feb 2025

Trump Administration Proposes Hefty Port Fees on Chinese-Built and Operated Ships

The Trump administration is considering new tariffs aimed at the container shipping industry, proposing steep port usage fees on Chinese-built and Chinese-operated vessels calling at U.S. ports. Additionally, U.S. exporters may face rising costs under a separate proposal requiring an increasing share of exports to be transported on American ships. If enacted, these measures could […]

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20 Nov 2024

‘Machines Don’t Feed Families’: East Coast Port Tensions Escalate

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has abruptly ended contract negotiations with East and Gulf Coast port employers, accusing them of attempting to introduce automation technology into the new labor agreement—something the union says would threaten its members’ jobs. The talks, which resumed this week in New Jersey between the ILA and the United States Maritime […]

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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 Nov 2024

Hapag-Lloyd Predicts Pre-Lunar New Year Cargo Rush Amid Strong Demand

Hapag-Lloyd anticipates a possible cargo surge ahead of the Lunar New Year in January, driven in part by shippers aiming to avoid potential new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods under the incoming Trump administration. Despite strong fourth-quarter demand, the carrier expects profitability to dip compared to its record-breaking third quarter. “There could be a rush […]

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04 Nov 2024

High Imports and Low Blanks Extend Peak Season on Trans-Pacific Routes

The eastbound trans-Pacific trade is experiencing an unusually extended peak season, with steady demand for imports from Asia and fewer-than-expected blank sailings announced for November. Carriers are holding off on the typical reduction in services, seeking to maintain higher rates as import levels remain strong. Typically, import demand from Asia decreases as Black Friday approaches, […]

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21 Oct 2024

Rail Delays Soar as LA-LB Ports Hit Record Import Highs in September

  In September, rail container dwell times at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach hit their highest levels in two years as the ports experienced a surge in import volumes from Asia. This spike is partially attributed to retailers redirecting cargo from the East and Gulf coasts due to a looming longshore strike. […]

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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, Jensen, CEO […]

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