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Showing posts with the label Freight Forwarder

Iran War Disrupting Shipping

  As the Iran-Israel conflict continues to escalate, global trade can soon see the Iran war disrupting shipping. Iran and Israel have been in a back-and-forth for decades, which has escalated in recent years. More recently, Israel and the US started what President Trump called “major combat operations”, bombing various locations in Iran. Trump noted that the strikes were to “prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America.” With the escalation continuing, numerous supply chains that rely on commodities from the location, such as oil, will be affected. With warnings of future strikes and broader conflict, the war could soon have a greater impact on international shipping. How Is The Iran War Disrupting Shipping?   The Iran war is disrupting shipping in numerous ways, including halting trading routes and creating supply chain bottlenecks.  A primary issue is that the conflict is happening near the Strait of Hormuz . This strait is responsible for nea...

Trump Raising South Korea Tariffs

  A recent announcement could result in President Trump raising South Korea tariffs to 25%. In a January 26 social media post, Trump threatened to increase South Korea’s import levies from 15% to 25%. The president further stated that the increase will apply to imports, including automobiles, lumber, and pharmaceutical products. Goods subject to Trump’s original baseline reciprocal tariffs will also be affected by the duties.  The US initially lowered tariffs on South Korean goods from 25% to 15% as part of a trade deal in July 2025 . South Korean officials were caught off guard by the announcement and are planning to speak with the US about the issue. Why Is Trump Raising Tariffs on South Korean Imports? President Trump’s primary reason for raising tariffs on South Korea is its failure to ratify a trade deal. In 2025, both countries agreed on a trade and investment framework valued at approximately $350 billion. The deal included the US lowering tariffs on specific Korean imp...

Trump Threatening A New 25% Tariff

  A recent announcement has President Trump threatening a new 25% Tariff on Iran’s trading partners. On January 12, the President announced the levies on a social media post. Notable countries that the tariff could affect include India, China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and others. Although the White House has not published final guidelines, Trump noted that the decision was “final and conclusive”. With the Supreme Court currently examining the legality of other tariffs issued by Trump, this announcement further heightens uncertainty. Why Is Trump Threatening A New 25% Tariff on Iran’s Trading Partners? The primary reason for the 25% tariff is ongoing geopolitical tensions. Ongoing protests in Iran resulted in casualties of over 2000 people, and the tariff is a pressure against it. Trump recently stated, “If Tehran violently kills peaceful protesters, they will come to their rescue.” The president issued similar “secondary tariffs” last year for countries that buy oil from V...

Top US Coffee Importer Shifting

The international shipping industry could soon see the top US coffee importer shifting from Brazil. Responsible for nearly 30% of the unroasted coffee brought into the US each year, Brazil is the US’s largest supplier. However, in October, both Peru and Colombia overtook Brazil in the amount of coffee beans imported into the US. Other countries, like Mexico, and producers in Africa and Southeast Asia have also seen a significant growth in coffee imports. In May of 2025, the total amount imported from all countries exceeded 4600 TEUs. This article will explain the reason for the change in   coffee imports   and what it could mean for the shipper. Why Is The Top US Coffee Importer Shifting? A primary reason for the change in coffee-importing countries is President Trump’s tariffs. Since his return to office, Trump has been imposing levies on the US’s biggest trade partners. Some of the justifications include addressing unfair trade practices and strengthening the US economy. In ...

Trump Is Raising Canada Tariffs

President Trump is raising Canada tariffs by 10% after an announcement on October 25. In a social media post, Trump said he would increase duties on Canadian imports due to a TV ad. The president will add the 10% to previously imposed tariffs, raising the total amount to 45% for certain goods. Canadian imports have been subjected to a 35% tax since August 1. The tariff increase will not affect importations that fall under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement). Trump has not yet specified the scope of the latest raise and what goods will be affected. This article will explain Trump’s goal behind the tariff increase and its impact on shippers. Why Trump Is Raising Canada Tariffs By 10%? The 10% rise came after Canada aired a TV ad featuring former president Ronald Regan criticizing tariffs. Trump immediately responded by calling the advertisement a fraud and stating, “All trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated”. The Ronald Regan Presidential Foundation also issu...

US-Japan Trade Deal Starting

  International shipping may soon feel the impact of the US-Japan trade deal starting on September 16. On July 22, the Trump Administration reached an agreement with Japan establishing a tariff framework between the countries. The deal includes a 15% baseline on most Japanese imports into the US, including  automobiles and auto parts . When Trump returned to the presidency, he hiked the 2.5% duty on Japanese automobiles to 27.5%. The US will equally reduce the rates of automobile imports coming from the EU (European Union) and South Korea. Some of the other key details from the trade deal include: Japanese imports will no longer have additional ad-valorem tariffs and reciprocal duties on top of the 15%. The tariff’s adjustments are retroactive to August 7. Importers that come into the US from Japan after that date are eligible for refunds under the deal. Japan will invest $550 billion in US projects picked by the US government. These will focus on national and economic sectors...

US Extending China’s Tariff Pause

  An executive order signed by President Trump on August 11 has the US extending China’s tariff pause. Originally set to start this week, the higher tariffs for imports from each country will begin on November 10. The US will keep its levies on Chinese goods at 30% while China will keep its 10%. Both countries have been in a trade war since 2018, during Trump’s first presidency. The trade war escalated significantly over the last few months during his second presidency after Trump imposed more tariffs. After several back-and-forth levies, the total amount for Chinese imports reached 145% while China reached 125% on US imports. This article will explain the goal behind the extension and how it could impact your shipment. Why Did the US Extend the Deadline? Extending the deadline is to act as a breather, giving both countries a temporary ceasefire.  On May 12, both countries entered a similar agreement to pause tariffs that would reach triple digits . The current extension provi...