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...

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...

As tariff refunds are issued, the practical question becomes how companies should report them. Explore common tax reporting issues. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision invalidating the IEEPA tariffs, the government has stopped collecting those tariffs and is refunding amounts importers previously paid. Because tariffs are generally capitalized into inventory and recovered through cost of goods sold (COGS) as inventory is sold, refunds will be taxed the same as the original tariff. Learn more about how tariff refunds will be taxed and...

In this week’s Roar: Asia-U.S. ocean rates are up, a new world order for supply chains, getting the U.S. and Mexico aligned on China tariffs, the latest on the UP and NS merger, and a U.S.-backed container shipping line. It’s not just fuel costs. The impact of geopolitics on Asia-U.S. ocean shipping rates has been harsh, too. Rates have surged by 234% since February, largely thanks to the Iran conflict and new tariffs. Even though some rates appear to be slightly softening, down...

As I write, we have entered another reprieve in the conflict with Iran, as President Trump suggested over the weekend that regional lobbying convinced him to start another round of diplomacy to try for a deal. More likely its low approval ratings, continued high refined fuel prices and other political pressure. Market hope springs eternal. Crude oil prices sold off sharply, likely helped by light volumes in early hours of Asian trading, extending some easing from last week when a...

The new import ban adds medium-term uncertainty to clean power supply chains. Existing approved inverters are unaffected, but new foreign imports will be blocked. The measure could raise costs and further complicate supply chain strategies, but without materially altering the US renewables outlook. The US clean power supply chain, already under strain, is facing another headwind. As solar and battery project developers grapple with tariffs and foreign entity of concern (FEOC) requirements to maintain tax-credit eligibility, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced...