Global Trade

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.

In the face of ongoing tariff uncertainty, 18 C-suite executives share their strategies for navigating the evolving landscape. Many companies are absorbing tariff costs, passing them onto customers, or sourcing domestically to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

With tariffs shaping global trade, U.S. importers must adapt to an increasingly complex environment. This comprehensive guide explores current tariff mechanisms, including Section 301, Section 232, and IEEPA, highlighting the impact on businesses. As legal challenges and negotiations unfold, importers must proactively manage their tariff exposure, monitor regulatory developments, and optimize inventory strategies. Key tactics like accurate HTS classification, tariff forecasting, and using U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) can help mitigate risks and maintain cost competitiveness in 2025’s unpredictable market.

While some previous implementation dates for the White House’s reciprocal tariffs placed on goods imported into the United States had seen those dates pushed back, or paused, that was not the case this time around.

The overall outlook remains fluid, in terms of the pace and also significance of trade deals being made up to the August 1 deadline. John Lash, group VP of product strategy for connected supply chain platform services provider e2open, provided LM with his analysis of what shippers may be in store for when the new tariffs formally take effect.

With only a few days left until the end of the reciprocal tariff pause between the United States and its trading partners, the framework of a large trade deal was brokered yesterday between the U.S. and the 27-nation bloc comprising the European Union, which collectively represents the largest trading partner for the U.S.

the weekend he said that matching 30% tariffs will be placed on the imports from the European Union and Mexico to the U.S. on the same date—separate from sectoral tariffs.

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.

For May, the most recent month for which data is available, United States imports came in at 1.95 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), marking an 11.8% sequential decline and a 6.4% annual increase, with the latter marking the first annual decline going back to September 2023 and the lowest tally in any month since May 2024’s 1.93 million TEU.

While there have not been material changes in United States trade policy going back to the three-month pause of the White House’s reciprocal tariffs implemented on April 9, it stands to reason that will be soon coming to an end, with the pause set to expire on July 9. But it may not be the end that was initially expected, with various reports indicating the pause has been moved back to August 1.

The move targets low-cost shipments from companies like Shein and Temu, which have relied on the rule to avoid tariffs.

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.

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...

Ocean shipping on trans-Pacific trade lanes is grappling with extreme volatility as fluctuating U.S. tariffs disrupt import volumes, leading to shipping freezes, capacity reductions, and soaring freight rates. With tariffs shifting unexpectedly, shippers are rushing to move goods before deadlines, causing port congestion to spike and freight rates to climb as carriers impose surcharges.

A report recently issued by Everstream Analytics, a supply chain risk management research firm, takes a wide-ranging look at how ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China are impacting global technology supply chains on various fronts.