Category: Economics

The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) has published its Q2 2025 Pulse Survey, and the findings paint a sobering picture for global supply chains. Procurement leaders are reporting their highest-ever levels of concern about disruption, with anxieties around shipping costs, ... Read more

The container shipping industry is set for several years of structural oversupply, which will put significant downward pressure on rates, with fleet growth consistently outpacing cargo demand until the end of the decade. Analysts point to a combination of record vessel orders and limited scrap... Read more

The first half of 2025 has been one of the most turbulent periods for supply chains in recent memory. From renewed tariff wars to fresh geopolitical flashpoints, logistics professionals have had to contend with a constantly shifting landscape. At the same time, structural challenges around ski... Read more

The Bank of England (BoE) is expected to lower its base rate by 25 basis points to 4.00% at its 7 August Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, which will be the third cut of 2025. The move signals a clear shift from restrictive to more accommodative policy as economic pressures mount. UK... Read more

The US and EU have agreed a landmark trade framework taking effect 1 August, with a 15% baseline tariff, replacing many higher existing rates. In addition to lowering tariffs the new trade deal opens markets, and pledges huge investment flows, with significant opportunities for UK traders able... Read more

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has triggered fresh uncertainty after cancelling a planned welfare reform expected to save £5.5 billion, leaving a significant hole in the Treasury’s accounts and raising the prospect of tax increases later this year. Markets reacted swiftly: sterling dipped and gov... Read more

As the freight and logistics sector navigates a complex global landscape, the coming week marks a period of significant policy recalibration. From fiscal reforms in the UK and US to central bank updates and ongoing geopolitical tensions, the external environment is shifting and with it, the op... Read more

Faced with rising tariffs, geopolitical risk, and ongoing disruption to global transport networks, a growing number of businesses are turning to near-shoring as a strategic way to strengthen supply chains. Near-shoring, the relocation of manufacturing or sourcing to nearby countries, gained at... Read more

A U.S. federal court has ruled that President Donald Trump's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs are illegal — delivering what may prove to be a major blow to his trade policy agenda, or simply a temporary setback. On May 28, 2025, the United States Court of International Trade determined that... Read more

The UK government has made major strides in strengthening its international trade relationships this May, concluding three key agreements with India (6 May), the United States (8 May), and the European Union (19 May). These agreements could reshape trade routes and sourcing decisions, reduce c... Read more

As the United States recalibrates its tariff landscape, importers (and DDP exporters) are navigating a rapidly shifting environment. With Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods still firmly in place, it has never been more critical to understand which tariffs apply and how to calculate them. In ... Read more

Launched as a strategic counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is poised to reshape global trade flows between Europe, India, and beyond. Backed by a coalition of world powers including the US, EU, India, and key Middle Ea... Read more