The U.S. government’s decision to eliminate the de minimis exemption for Chinese imports in May has triggered a dramatic 43% plunge in airfreight e-commerce shipments from China to the United States. According to new data from logistics consultancy Aevean, volumes of e-commerce goods flown from China to the U.S. fell sharply from 109,325 tonnes in […]
Read MoreU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released updated guidance on the recently expanded steel tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. While there were no changes to the original list of steel products affected, the update corrects classification numbers for some steel derivative goods. What This Means for Importers As of June […]
Read MoreAmerican companies rushed to import goods from Asia in May, triggering record-setting export figures from Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand as they moved to beat a looming deadline for new U.S. tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump. The surge in shipments—driven by fears of steep “reciprocal” tariffs that could take effect in early July—has upended normal […]
Read MoreImport duties imposed by the Trump administration have caused well-documented disruptions to container services, but what is less often reported is the impact these taxes are having on U.S. ports and terminals. In May 2024, the Biden administration imposed a 25% tariff on ship-to-shore (STS) cranes. More recently, former President Trump has floated the idea […]
Read MoreThe World Bank has downgraded growth projections for 70% of global economies, blaming escalating trade tensions and policy uncertainty. JPMorgan Chase warns the U.S. economy is likely to grow at a sluggish pace, while Elon Musk predicts tariffs could spark a recession in the second half of the year. This turbulence raises a central question: […]
Read MoreRising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have triggered renewed warnings for the global shipping industry. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which provides security advisories for commercial vessels, has urged heightened caution for ships navigating the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz. The advisory comes ahead of U.S.-Iran nuclear […]
Read MoreAs of 12:01 a.m. ET on June 4, tariffs on most steel and aluminum imports into the United States have officially doubled—from 25% to 50% ad valorem—following a proclamation issued by President Trump. An exception remains in place for imports from the United Kingdom, which will continue to be subject to the original 25% tariff […]
Read MoreSpot rates on the trans-Pacific trade lane are climbing even faster than during the pandemic-driven spike of spring 2021, fueled by a surge in Asian imports ahead of looming U.S. tariff hikes. This rush, triggered by a temporary pause in tariffs enacted under the Trump administration, has ocean carriers pushing rates aggressively to maximize revenue […]
Read MoreOcean freight rates from Asia to Europe soared ahead of the carriers’ June 1 general rate increases, fueled by growing congestion at major ports and a shift in vessel deployment toward the booming Asia-U.S. trade lane. Severe delays at key port hubs on both ends of the Asia-Europe route are absorbing available capacity. At the […]
Read MoreOn May 28, 2025, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued a significant ruling that blocks the Trump Administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on foreign imports. The decision impacts a broad range of tariffs, including those targeting fentanyl-related imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, as well […]
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