For all the variables of international commerce – with its endless combinations of commodities, origins, and destinations – there are still some things all shippers have in common: a desire to streamline the supply chain and reduce freight costs.

On June 21, 2022, The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) took effect, effectively banning the import of all goods made in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China. President Biden signed this law on December 23, 2021, after it overwhelmingly passed both houses of Congress. In addition to giving the government additional tools to enforce U.S. forced labor laws, the new law includes a statutory presumption that all goods from Xinjiang are made with forced labor.

As the subject line suggests, there has been a recent (March 23, 2022) development out of the office of the US Trade Representative that offers some hope to companies that had previously been subject to exclusions to the Sec. 301 duties against China.

On March 1, 2022, the Felicity Ace sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling from Germany to the U.S., the ship was carrying thousands of luxury cars from Volkswagen, including Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys. According to Reuters, without international cargo insurance coverage the financial losses could equal upwards of $155 million.

For over 15 years, the relationship between Averitt and Virco, an American manufacturer and supplier of school furniture and equipment, has continued to thrive and grow. From standard LTL services to dedicated fleet operations, and international forwarding, Averitt helps Virco deliver first-class delivery experience to schools and offices—even through the most challenging of times.

On May 1, 2021, the Tax Administration Service (SAT by its Spanish acronym), published on its website the electronic document called Complemento carta porte (Carta Porte) or Bill of Lading supplement.

The newly-expanded Panama Canal was opened on June 26, 2016. Three years later, we addressed the impact that the Panama Canal expansion had made on supply chains to that point.

In the last week of December 2021, more than 100 container ships were anchored outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. While that wasn’t the all-time high up until that point, the sheer number shows just how backed up the international supply chain currently is as we begin the new year. With that said, 2021 was a year that shippers, especially those involved with imports, will never forget.