Global Logistics

FedEx said this week it has started a direct cargo flight between Dublin, Ireland, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The four-day-a-week service shortens shipping times by a full day by skipping the crowded coastal gateways.

While 32% of logistics stakeholders report operational disruptions like cost increases and slower deliveries, nearly half say they've seen no impact—suggesting a complex, uneven industry transition.

The deal strengthens CMA CGM’s position in the UK railroad market and helps it shift more cargo from road to rail.

Late last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a ruling, by a 7-4 margin, in which it stated the majority of the IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) tariffs rolled out by the White House are illegal. Tariffs will remain temporarily in place until October 14, which will give the White House time to appeal its case to the Supreme Court.

Following a 90-day pause rolled out in May, which was set to expire today, the White House said yesterday, in an Executive Order, that tariffs on United States-bound imports from China will remain at current levels for another 90 days, through November 10.

With the White House’s widespread reciprocal tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners taking effect on August 7, the report said it expects total 2025 import cargo volume for the ports cited in the report to be 5.6% lower annually.

As of August 7, the U.S. has put new tariffs in place on goods from dozens of countries. The updated rates vary widely, with some close trade partners seeing 10 percent tariffs and others facing rates above 40 percent.

Following a late July development, in which the framework of a large trade deal between the United States and the 27-nation bloc comprising the European Union, which collectively represents the largest trading partner for the U.S., was finalized, various reports published earlier this week stated that the EU is pausing is planned tariffs on U.S. goods, originally set for August 7, for six months, providing more time for both sides to come to terms on a broader agreement.

As the White House continues to send out letters to United States trading partners, regarding reciprocal tariffs that will be implemented in U.S.-bound imports, set to take effect on August 1—which was pushed back earlier this week from a previous July 9 deadline—there remains a general sense of supply chain and logistics uncertainty, for industry stakeholders, in terms of next steps.

President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with Vietnam this week, slashing the threatened 46% tariff on Vietnamese imports to 20% and granting duty-free entry for U.S. goods. The deal comes as Washington intensifies efforts to redraw global supply chains and reduce America’s reliance on Chinese manufacturing.

Third-party logistics (3PL) providers are grappling with geopolitical instability, fluctuating tariffs, rising costs, and labor shortages, while also facing pressure to accelerate e-commerce order fulfillment. Smaller 3PLs struggle to keep pace with larger peers due to high costs of automation, AI, and robotics. Despite these challenges, the U.S. 3PL market saw growth in 2024, with net revenues increasing by 1.6%.

While it is likely true that not many people thought the soon-to-be-ending three-month pause on the White House’s “Liberation Day, ” or reciprocal, tariffs would be a low-key affair, with just more than a week to go to the July 8 deadline, the global supply chain, once again, is preparing—and very likely about to deal with more—for a hefty amount of uncertainty, coupled with what could be viewed as a continued lack of clarity, relating to next step in...

A new Gartner report urges supply chain leaders to reroute shipments, prep CFOs for rising costs, and revisit risk plans.

The company explained that this investment comprises its major divisions—DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Supply Chain, and DHL eCommerce, in various ways, including enhancing infrastructure, expanding networks and capacity, and elevating service capabilities.

Ongoing U.S. trade policy shifts—including new de minimis rules for Chinese shipments—are reshaping global logistics. With rising tariffs and reduced exemptions impacting cross-border e-commerce, Armstrong & Associates projects 2025 third-party logistics (3PL) revenue to hit $316.2 billion, up 4.5%, fueled by early-year growth despite increased uncertainty.