On June 26, 2016, the expanded Panama Canal was opened. At the time, there was fanfare a’plenty, with the Panama Canal Authority’s public relations department declaring that the long-delayed opening “...Ushers in a New Era of Global Trade.” Three years later, it’s time to assess whether or not the expanded canal has lived up to these lofty promises – and just what impact it’s had on shipping in the U.S. 

China has responded to the latest round of 25% tariff increases the United Sates has imposed on their goods as they enter the US.

In response to the U.S. raising our own List 3 tariffs to 25% on $200 billion in goods, China announced on May 13 that it was raising the tariffs $60 billion of US goods covered on 4 lists they had previously identified. The four product lists carry specific duty rates – 25% (List 1), 20% (List 2), 10% (List 3) or 5% (List 4).

In the face of massive uncertainty on the status of the US/China trade negotiations, importers should be aware that the duty rate for List 3 products is planned to increase from 10% to 25%, as early as 12:01 AM Friday (May 10th, 2019). This is noted in the Federal Register (Click here to view).

The office of the United States Trade Representative has released a new and updated listing of products that are now excluded from coverage under Sec. 301 duties implemented last year. These exclusions are retroactive to July 6, 2018 and will be effective until April 18, 2020. A summary of the exclusion list is copied below.  

Updates

Aug. 5: On August 4th, President Trump backed off the threat to shut down points of entry along the U.S. and Mexico border. However, the current situation has not changed the fact that drivers are facing long waits to cross. Some drivers are waiting eight hours or more to get through customs. 

Original Article

Amid growing tensions surrounding the U.S. and Mexico border, shippers need to prepare for expected shipment delays. Following an influx of Central American migrants arriving at the border, the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) is shuffling personnel and assets around to manage the situation. As a result, many officers and inspectors that are generally tasked with checking trucks and freight moving back and forth across the border are being temporarily reassigned to work more closely with migrants. 

In late 2018, more than 2,300 shippers participated in our 4th annual State of the North American Supply Chain Survey. The following article examines a portion of the results.

In late 2018, we asked shippers to participate in our 4th annual State of the North American Supply Chain survey. The purpose of the survey is gauge the challenges that shippers faced over the course of 2018, and to gain a better understanding of what they believe will be their biggest challenges in 2019. 

More than a decade after the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression, the U.S. economy now sits high amid a period of low unemployment and low inflation. In an October speech, Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chairman, touted economic forecasts as having a “remarkably positive outlook.” Still, many shippers and businesses are uncertain how the path to sustainable growth will look as numerous challenges to supply chains persist.

CHINA TARIFFS  --  There are currently 3 rounds of increases targeting 3 different groups of products and HTS#’s from China, PRC.   Click on the yellow numbers below to access the HTS listing for each round.