A1 Worldwide Logistics - International Shipping Company

As International shipping continues to shift, the industry can soon see Canada leading the BRICS economy. BRICS is a group of emerging economies comprising ten countries, including Brazil, China, Russia, India, and others. Over the last few years, the BRICS market has expanded, now accounting for 40% of the global economy. Although Canada is not a part of BRICS, Canada’s largest trading partners are in the group, including China and India. As Canada continues to expand its trade, the concurrent growth of BRICS countries may significantly impact shipping. How Is Canada Leading The BRICS Economy? While not being a member of BRICS, Canada’s primary exports are to countries in the bloc. A popular commodity that Canada exports is wheat, and it is the world’s third-largest shipper. With Canada as a major trader in BRICS, the country could soon account for 44% of the world’s grain consumption. Canadian exporters also benefit from fast-growing consumer markets in energy, critical minerals, and...

The international shipping industry continues to feel the strain from trade wars, with Mexico imposing a 50% tariff. On December 10, Mexico’s congress agreed to hike tariffs on more than 1,400 imports from China and other Asian nations. Some of the goods subject to tax include automotive parts, steel, furniture, textiles, and plastics. Tariffs on most of these items, previously at 10%, will increase to 35%. Key manufactured goods, such as vehicles, will also see a larger 50% increase. After 75 votes in favor, five against, and 35 abstentions, the new bill will take place on January 1. These tariffs could significantly affect global trade, particularly the volume of goods imported into Mexico. Why Is Mexico Imposing A 50% Tariff? Mexico is imposing tariffs of up to 50% on imports for various reasons, including protecting domestic industries. The country aims to reduce its dependence on imports from countries without free trade agreements. Many of these importers are based in Asian c...

  Despite its use across industries, there are several aspects shippers should understand when importing machinery into the US. CBP defines machinery as mechanical equipment that performs a specific function, including equipment used in commercial, industrial, and agricultural operations. Machines also have moving parts to produce, process, or transport goods. Examples include construction equipment, robotics, and electric generators. Cargo such as raw materials, hand tools, and individual spare parts is not classified as machinery by CBP. Due to the number of items that shippers can classify as machines, importing these goods may sometimes be challenging. This article explains the importation process for machines like heavy equipment and what to expect when starting. What Should You Know Before Importing Machinery Into The US When deciding whether to import, it is essential to understand the type of machinery you are bringing in. Laws and regulations for importing can vary by mach...

China hit a $1 trillion trade surplus for the first time on December 8. Over the last 11 months of 2025, China’s surplus reached $1.08 trillion, beating 2024’s $992 billion amount. A trade surplus is the value of how much a country exports that exceeds its imports. In 2025, China’s exports rose to nearly $3.4 trillion while its imports declined to $2.3 trillion. Exports from China rose almost 5.9% year-over-year in November alone, while imports grew about 1.9%. The $1 trillion figure is also significant, given the ongoing  trade war between China and the US . With China exporting less cargo to the US, the resulting surplus could significantly impact international shipping. How Did China Hit A $1 Trillion Trade Surplus? When President Trump returned to office, the trade war between the US and China escalated. Tariffs imposed by both countries soon rose above 100%  until they reached a trade deal . The surplus stems from the actions China took following Trump’s 2024 election vic...

  A bilateral trade deal is resulting in the US reducing South Korea’s tariffs on imports. On December 1, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the US will reduce levies to 15% retroactively to November 1. Previously, the US imposed tariffs of up to 25% on South Korean automobiles and other goods. The 25% came from duties the US used under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Reciprocal tariffs that President Trump imposed under the IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) also added to the 25%. In addition to reducing duties to 25%, tariffs on airplane parts from South Korea will be eliminated. The deal will also cap future tariffs on sectors such as semiconductors and Pharmaceuticals at 15%. Why Is The US Reducing South Korea’s Tariffs? The main reason for the tariff reduction is a trade deal between the two countries. Along with the US reducing levies, South Korea will invest approximately $350 billion into strategic US industries. Some of these industri...

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...

The US-China Trade War Continues, with the Chinese government recently charging port fees on US ships. On October 14, China began imposing fees on US-owned vessels docking in Chinese ports. The charges came after both countries agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs imposed on each other. By April, the US had levies on China up to 145% while China had up to 125%.  In May, the countries agreed on a 90-day truce and reduced the tariffs to 30% (US) and 10% (China).  The countries extended the pause to November 10, before China retaliated with new port fees. President Trump responded by announcing that he will impose a 100% tariff on Chinese imports starting in November. Why Are The Countries In A Trade War? China and the US have been in a trade war for years due to issues such as trade imbalances and intellectual property (IP) theft, and both countries are trying to protect their economic interests. The US is also fighting against the inflow of drugs, with China being the most popul...

  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...

  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...

  n July 27, the US and EU reached a trade deal that may have avoided a potential transatlantic tariff war. In particular, the parties reached a framework for an arrangement that will set 15% on most EU (European Union) imports. The amount is down from the 30% tax that Trump threatened on EU goods earlier this month. Certain products, like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and aircraft components, would not be impacted by the tariffs. The deal also includes the EU purchasing $750 billion in energy from the US and $600 billion in US investment. With the EU being one of the largest trading partners of the US, the agreement will significantly impact international shipping. How Did The Trade Deal Come To Be? The deal was made after a back-and-forth between the US and countries in the EU that lasted years . During Trump’s original presidency, he imposed a 25% tariff on steel and 10% on aluminum imports from the EU. The EU responded by enforcing levies on $3.2 billion worth of US goods. In Tru...