Jaguar Freight | The Weekly Roar – Tariffs and the threat to the holidays, the DOJ’s Corporate Whistleblower Awards, why UK-China shipping costs are surging, a positive Panama Canal update, and how companies are prioritizing sustainability within their supply chains.

Despite the Port of Los Angeles rebounding in June with record-setting cargo volumes, Executive Director Eugene Seroka is warning that newly imposed Trump administration tariffs threaten importers, retailers, and potentially holiday sales. The sudden rate hikes on major trading partners, including Japan, the EU, and China, are adding cost and uncertainty, And, discouraging retailers from taking inventory risks ahead of Christmas. Seroka and the National Retail Federation are expecting volumes to drop throughout the rest of 2025. Policymakers are being urged to recognize the pressure tariffs are putting on American businesses and consumers.

The Department of Justice has expanded its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program to include customs fraud and tariff evasion, offering up to 30% of recovered assets to whistleblowers whose information leads to successful prosecution. The program now explicitly targets schemes like misreporting origins or transshipment in the hope this will curb revenue loss and unfair trade practices. Any company that self-discloses violations right away can avoid prosecution, and their confidentiality will be protected. The DOJ’s goal is to boost enforcement, improve supply chain compliance, and increase tariff collections.

Tariff concerns have triggered a surge in UK-China shipping costs, with container rates climbing as much as 60% over three months as US companies have rushed imports to avoid the full effect of new duties. This is putting a strain on global shipping capacity, spilling over into higher freight prices on Asia-Europe routes and pressuring UK retailers who are already operating on thin margins. The effects are expected to be far-reaching, pushing UK inflation higher, complicating the Bank of England’s policy plans, and further disrupting supply chains. Some analysts do see this as nothing more than a temporary blip, but businesses are bracing for lasting impacts.

The Panama Canal Authority has reported a strong third quarter, highlighting full water capacity and steady operations. A wet season and maintaining a 50-foot draft are the main contributors. Looking ahead, the ACP says they’re investing $1.6 billion in the Rio Indio Project so they can boost daily transit capacity and secure water for half of Panama’s population. The Authority has also reduced a large amount of debt and increased their revenue through a slot allocation system. Sustainability initiatives include hybrid tugboats, a net-zero program, plus substantial investment in local communities and watershed education.

Despite regulatory rollbacks and public debate around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs, most U.S. companies are prioritizing sustainability, especially within their supply chains, according to a recent study. Executives say they see supply chain sustainability as an important competitive advantage. Many fear that scaling back ESG rules could end up increasing supply chain disruptions and ultimately undermine their data quality. While companies are struggling to stay compliant with complex regulations, most of them are still stepping up investments in tech tools like ESG risk mapping and supplier engagement platforms. With these, they hope to close data gaps, manage risk, and support long-term supply chain stability.

For the rest of the week’s top shipping news, check out the article highlights here.

Compliments of Jaguar Freight – a member of the EACCNY.