US and India Trade Deals Open Doors for UK Traders
Two landmark trade agreements with the US and India promise to reshape supply chain opportunities for UK importers and exporters. Both deals offer a mix of immediate tariff relief and long-term potential to diversify sourcing and boost exports.
The newly signed UK-US agreement has reduced US t...
Read more
US-China Tariff Pause Offers Fashion Breathing Space
Fashion brands and retailers around the world have welcomed a temporary easing of tensions between the US and China, but remain wary of the wider uncertainty still gripping global supply chains.
A 90-day agreement announced on Monday May 12 will, from May 14, reduce US tariffs on Chinese goods...
Read more
March Airfreight Surge Sets Stage for Further Growth as US-China Trade Tensions Ease
Airfreight markets posted a record performance in March, with particularly strong activity on Asia, US, Europe and UK trade lanes. The surge, driven by shippers front-loading cargo ahead of anticipated US tariffs, has provided a benchmark for what could follow in the months ahead as recent tariff...
Read more
Trump’s Red Sea Gambit
A dramatic shift in the Red Sea shipping crisis may be underway following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Houthi militants have agreed to halt their campaign against commercial vessels.
His declaration has sparked hopes of restored freedom of navigation through one of the world...
Read more
Blanked Sailings Amid Geopolitical Shifts
Global sea freight is navigating a complex landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, fluctuating demand, and strategic capacity adjustments and while a temporary US-China tariff truce offers a glimmer of hope, challenges persist across major trade lanes.
In response to weakening demand, parti...
Read more
India and Pakistan Impose Cargo Bans
The fragile balance of South Asia’s supply chain network has been thrown into disarray after India and Pakistan imposed tit-for-tat bans on each other’s cargo.
The diplomatic standoff, triggered by recent violence in Kashmir and subsequent military exchanges, has sent shockwaves through oc...
Read more
New US Port Fees Target Chinese and Non-Chinese Carriers
New US port fees aimed at Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships are set to begin in October 2025, challenging China's dominance in shipbuilding and shipping, while attempting to bolster the US maritime industry.
Under the new structure, Chinese ship owners and operators face charges starting a...
Read more
Northern Europe’s Ports Struggle with Congestion Amid Network Shifts
Ports across Northern Europe are grappling with rising congestion, causing widespread delays and operational disruption. A confluence of industrial action, infrastructure strain, inland transport bottlenecks and the rollout of new shipping alliances is overwhelming terminals, with no immediate re...
Read more
IMEC: Europe’s New Trade Bridge to India
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
Tariff Tensions Drive Short-Term Freight Surges and Long-Term Uncertainty
Global freight markets remain under pressure as shifting US tariff policies continue to disrupt established trade patterns, prompting divergent responses across air and sea freight markets. While immediate demand surges have driven up short-term pricing, underlying market dynamics suggest a volat...
Read more
Economic Uncertainty and Foreign Exchange Volatility
International trade and global shipping has long been shaped by the ebb and flow of economic indicators, currency movements, and policy decisions. But in recent weeks, this interplay has intensified, with significant implications for importers and exporters.
While President Trump’s new trade...
Read more
New Tariffs and the End of De Minimis
On 2 April 2025, President Donald J. Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, targeting approximately 60 countries, with China singled out for the most severe action. In response to retaliatory tariffs from Beijing, the United States escalated its own duties, ultimately imposing a 125% tariff on all...
Read more