Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is stepping up inspections of wood packaging materials (WPM), creating new compliance pressures for US importers. With enforcement activity rising and thousands more Agriculture Emergency…
Importers are increasingly being caught out by pest-related enforcement, as wood packaging materials arrive contaminated despite appearing fully compliant. The financial consequences are severe: multi-layered fines, demurrage, fumigation costs, and…
New US and China port fees are impacting every shipper moving goods between Asia and North America, with far-reaching regulations and escalating cost pressures. UPDATE 30 OCTOBER - Donald Trump…
While the current U.S. government shutdown has not yet caused major disruption to trade, importers and exporters are monitoring developments closely. Experience from past shutdowns suggests that, if it continues,…
For decades, US businesses have thrived on global trade, benefiting from relatively predictable rules and preferential systems that supported both imports and exports. Today, however, shifting trade policies are rewriting…
Transpacific container shipping is showing signs of stabilisation after months of volatility, but the market remains unsettled by tariff pressures, shifting trade flows and persistent oversupply. Spot rates on Asia–US…
The United States and China have agreed to prolong their temporary halt on recent tariff hikes for a further 90 days, offering a brief reprieve for importers as high-level negotiations…
The first week of August has brought two major developments, the formal start of new tariffs and a US–EU trade framework designed to reset transatlantic commerce. From 7 August, the…
The early rush to front-load shipments ahead of impending tariffs has drained much of the typical second-half year demand. At the same time, invisible inventory - goods stalled in yards,…
U.S. importers are adjusting to two significant customs developments that could impact their cost exposure and compliance risk An expansion in the number of Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes allowed…
The global freight industry in 2025 presents a dynamic landscape shaped by robust demand, geopolitical…
The OECD, WTO and IMF are predicting that global trade growth could more than double…
Global container shipping lines are bracing for a decade of structural oversupply, with new vessel…
