In this week’s Roar: Record high port congestion, optimism in the Red Sea, rising air rates from Asia to the EU, contrasting East Coast to West Coast rates, and unpredictable lead times for South American importers. In conditions reminiscent of the pandemic, port congestion has hit a record high, with 4.31 million TEU of container capacity stranded around the globe. The situation has worsened due to delays in Asia and Europe and longer routes around Africa, which have also helped...

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On August 21, 2026, trade negotiations between the United States and Canada faltered and the parties, for now, have ceased further negotiations. As a result, the United States has implemented 50% tariffs on a broad range of Canadian products under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. First announced on July 20, 2026 (see SmarTrade update of July 21, 2026), when President Donald Trump signed three Presidential Proclamations imposing these additional, implementation of these tariffs was delayed until August 22,...

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In this week’s Roar: Global trade remains robust, the U.S.-Asia trade war, diesel prices are up and so are global air freight rates, and how far global CEOs will go to mitigate risk. So far this year, global trade has remained surprisingly robust, especially from China. But shipping lines and ports still face challenges as empty containers pile up in the U.S. and Europe. The East-West trade imbalance is worsening, driving port congestion that hinders efficiency and burdens carriers with zero-revenue...

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Key Points: President Trump suspended additional ad valorem duties of up to 50% on certain Canadian imports under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 for three days, shifting the effective date from August 19 to August 22, 2026, covering the alcoholic beverages, dairy, and motor vehicles sectors.  Companies with Canadian supply chain exposure in the Covered Sectors should monitor developments closely, as ongoing negotiations may result in further presidential action — including an extension, permanent revocation, or imposition of...

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A report says companies are routing billions of goods from high-tariff countries like China through countries like Mexico, Vietnam and Malaysia. Key Points A White House report pegs tariff-evading transshipment at least $34.2 billion annually and names several countries as primary conduits for Chinese goods entering the U.S. under false origin claims. Customs and Border Protection is deploying an AI-powered enforcement system that cross-references origin declarations, routing data, and component sourcing to flag evasion at scale. Companies should review country-of-origin...

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Key Points A presidential proclamation issued August 13, 2026, imposes Section 232 tariffs of 100% on high-risk UAS and docking stations, and 25% on consumer and commercial drones under 25 kg, effective September 3, 2026.  Reduced tariff caps of 15% (EU, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein) and 10% (UK) apply only where importers certify that “substantially all” critical components originate from qualifying countries — a standard Commerce has not yet defined.  The Proclamation’s onshoring program allows companies that...

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In this week’s Roar: Asia–U.S. East Coast box rates, jumping the queue at the Panama Canal, port congestion across Asia, falling air cargo demand in Europe, and AI’s role in overcoming supply chain hurdles. A geopolitical perfect storm of sorts has led Asia–U.S. East Coast box rates to a new high for the year, while pushing West Coast rates up 11% since the start of the month. Despite the perceived state of the economy, not to mention geopolitical volatility and the ongoing instability...

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In this week’s Roar: Are tariffs helping the U.S. trade deficit as intended? Ocean carriers rake in the profits, oil continues to be volatile, a mixed outlook for air cargo, and a likely extension of the Jones Act waiver. Can we say at this point if tariffs are helping the U.S. trade deficit? Not definitively. The June data shows the deficit narrowing to $73.3 billion, down from $77.6 billion in May, and down 33.8% year-to-date versus 2025. That’s the direction tariff proponents...

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Key Points On August 6, 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 15% ad valorem tariff and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, effective December 4, 2026.  The minimum import price program sets price floors of $21/kg for polysilicon, $100/kg for ingots and wafers, $0.22/W for solar cells, and $0.38/W for solar modules, with materially inaccurate certifications triggering a permanent import ban.  Raw polysilicon is subject only to...

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