Trump inks trade deal with Japan, cuts auto tariffs
Published on 23-07-2025 at 10:52 US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a trade deal with Japan, cutting US tariffs on Japanese cars to 15% and opening Japanese markets to American goods, in what he described as “perhaps the largest deal ever made.” Trump added that under the deal, Japan has committed to invest US$550…
Indonesia to Cut Tariffs, on-tariff barriers in US trade deal, Trump official says
FILE PHOTO: An American flag flutters over a ship and shipping containers at the Port of Los Angeles, in San Pedro California, U.S., May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Reuters July 22, 2025 July 22 (Reuters) – Indonesia will drop tariffs to zero on more than 99% of its trade with the United States and…
Putin orders FSB to vet all foreign ships entering Russian ports
Sam ChambersJuly 22, 2025 The Kremlin The Kremlin Russia has tightened access to its seaports, with president Vladimir Putin signing a decree on Monday mandating that all vessels arriving from foreign ports must now obtain prior approval from the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The executive order, which takes effect immediately, marks a significant expansion…
New EU and UK sanctions on Russia – enforcement will be key
The latest EU sanctions include a ban on refined product imports from third countries, 105 tankers, and revised oil price cap also adopted by UK. Paul Bartlett, Marcus Hand July 21, 2025 CREDIT: MARCUS HAND The European Union (EU) has banned the import of petroleum products made from Russian oil for the first time as…
China attempts to suppress South China Sea documentary
THE Chinese embassy in New Zealand attempted to suppress a public screening of a documentary about Philippine fishermen, according to producers of a film at a festival in Auckland, reports Fort Lauderdale’s Maritime Executive. Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea under its “nine dash line” policy, named for the shape of…
Canada to Curb Steel Imports to Soften Blow From US Tariffs
A worker welds a plate to a steel beam before Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney toured the steel fabricator Walters Group in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio Bloomberg July 16, 2025 By Jacob Lorinc, Randy Thanthong-Knight and Mathieu Dion Jul 16, 2025 (Bloomberg) –Canada will reduce the amount of foreign steel importers can…
US Aims to Ban Chinese Technology in Undersea Telecommunications Cables
The Hong Tai 58, a Togolese freighter, allegedly damaged a submarine cable between Taiwan and Pengzhou. Photo: Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Reuters July 16, 2025 By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) – The Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday it plans to adopt rules to bar companies from connecting undersea submarine communication cables to…
Trump’s shipbuilding revival wavers as key maritime adviser departs
Sam ChambersJuly 16, 2025 The White House The White House The Trump administration’s early ambition to revitalise US shipbuilding appears to be losing momentum, following the departure of Ian Bennitt, the White House National Security Council’s (NSC) senior director for maritime and industrial capacity. Bennitt’s exit, alongside that of NSC chief of staff Brian McCormack,…
UK Government launches ports policy consultation
Published on 16-07-2025 at 10:46 London Gateway port development Photo credit – DP World The UK Department for Transport has opened a public consultation on proposed amendments to the National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP). The original document was published in January 2012. Since then, significant changes have impacted on the sector. The updated draft…
Trump Fires White House Shipbuilding Adviser as US Maritime Strategy Falters
U.S. President Donald Trump listens as Rodolphe Saade, CEO pof CMA CGM Group, speaks in the Oval Office, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Reuters July 15, 2025 WASHINGTON, July 15 (Reuters) – Two senior officials at the White House National Security Council have left their roles in…
Trump Threatens New Sanctions on Russian Exports After Grace Period
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an Invest America Roundtable in the State Dining room, at the White House, in Washington, U.S., June 9, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Mike Schuler July 14, 2025 Trump outlines a tougher stance on Russia, conditioning peace talks on halting attacks and threatening sanctions on countries buying Russian…
Federal Maritime Commission Publishes Update of its Official Case Law Reporter
July 14, 2025 © Federal Maritime Commission The latest volume of Decisions of the Federal Maritime Commission, Second Series has been published on the FMC website: Decisions of the Federal Maritime Commission, Second Series (Volume 8). This publication provides a compendium of Initial and Final Decisions of the Commission and selected other orders that may be…
US importers face average 21 per cent tariff on containers
The average US container import tariff stands at 21 per cent, reports New York’s FreightWaves, citing Maersk data. Maersk said the current effective rate is less than half the 54 per cent peak seen earlier in 2025. A 90-day US-China tariff pause ends July 9, with future agreements uncertain. Maersk reported worsening visibility and persistent…
Trump hits Japan and South Korea with 25pc tariffs
PRESIDENT Donald Trump said the US would impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Japan and South Korea beginning August 1 as he unveiled the first two of 12 letters to trading partners outlining the new levies, Reuters reports. “If for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs, then, whatever the number…
Rising cyber risks and looming EU directive
Published on 13-07-2025 at 07:00 Just over one-third of logistics firms meet the NIS2 directive Shutterstock Dutch logistics companies face rising cyber threats as AI phishing, invoice fraud, and NIS2 regulations expose weak spots in cyber readiness. The cyber threat facing Europe’s logistics sector is growing rapidly, with AI-driven phishing, ransomware attacks and invoice fraud…
U.S. Customs Revenue Tops $100 Billion for First Time Amid Tariff Surge
Photo courtesy Port of Los Angeles Bloomberg July 11, 2025 By Jarrell Dillard and Daniel Flatley (Bloomberg) — US revenue from customs duties this fiscal year surpassed $100 billion for the first time, reflecting higher tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The Treasury Department recorded $27 billion in customs-duties revenue for June, bringing fiscal year-to-date inflows…
Fast-fashion Shein hit with US$47 million fine in France
FAST-FASHION retailer Shein has been fined EUR40 million (US$47.09 million) by French regulators, a record penalty, for misleading consumers on price reductions and environmental commitments, reports London’s Financial Times. An 11-month investigation found that Shein had engaged in “misleading commercial practices towards consumers on the reality of the price reductions granted and on the scope…
EU bars Chinese firms from medical device tenders
THE European Union will bar Chinese companies from participating in EU public tenders for medical devices worth EUR60 billion (US$68.9 billion) or more per year after concluding that EU companies are not given fair access in China, reports Reuters. The measure announced by the European Commission is the first under the EU’s International Procurement Instrument,…
DOT Adds New Waterways to U.S. Marine Highway Program to Boost Inland Shipping
Map of designated Marine Highways routes as of July 2025. U.S. Department of Transportation/Maritime Administration Image Mike Schuler July 10, 2025 The U.S. Department of Transportation has significantly expanded the United States Marine Highway Program, adding 848 new miles of navigable waterways and approving 14 new sponsors. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the…
Vietnam Cracks Down on Illegal Transshipments After Striking Trade Deal With US
July 10, 2025 © Adobe Stock/zapp2photo Vietnam is preparing stricter penalties to crack down on trade fraud and the illegal transshipment of goods, and has focused its inspections on Chinese products as it tries to comply with commitments made to Washington, documents seen by Reuters show. Last week, the Communist-ruled country struck a preliminary deal with…
Trump hits 14 nations with higher tariffs, deadline delayed to 1 Aug
Donald Trump has set 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea and has sent letters to 12 other countries that have not agreed trading terms with the US on import duties. Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent July 8, 2025 CREDIT: THE WHITEHOUSE The US President announced new import tariffs on 14 countries, mainly in Asia, ranging…
Trump Sets August 1 Tariff Start Ahead of Wednesday Deadline
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Bloomberg July 7, 2025 (Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump plans to announce trade deals…
Trump Bill Secures $9 Billion for U.S. Arctic Surge, Six New Icebreakers to Counter Russian and Chinese Dominance
Malte Humpert July 4, 2025 President Trump’s vast tax and spending bill has secured funds the U.S. Coast Guard has been searching for since the early 2010s. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” appropriates close to $9 billion for the expansion of the Coast Guard’s Arctic icebreaker fleet. It also sets aside $300 million for…
Trump’s Vietnam Deal Shows China Tariffs Won’t Fall Much Further
Shipping containers are seen at a port in Hai Phong city, Vietnam July 12, 2018. REUTERS/Kham Mike Schuler July 4, 2025 By Bloomberg News (Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump’s new trade deal with Vietnam sends a clear signal about where US tariffs on Chinese goods might ultimately land, as talks between Washington and Beijing continue following their…
Belt & Road to make US$1.6 trillion a year by 2030
THE Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s ambitious overseas infrastructure development program, is expected to generate US$1.6 trillion in annual revenue by 2030, reports Cain. Such was the prediction made by Zhou Hailing, a vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner at the Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin. He…
Trump’s shipbuilding ambitions face enormous hurdles
Sam ChambersJuly 3, 2025 The White House The White House President Trump’s ambitious plan to rejuvenate the US shipping and shipbuilding industries is encountering significant challenges, just months after its announcement. Despite bipartisan support for revitalising the maritime sector as a matter of economic and national security, internal policy conflicts and administrative delays are hindering…
White House tariff deadline looms large on liner agenda
Sam ChambersJuly 3, 2025 Whitehouse.org Whitehouse.org Donald Trump and tariffs are very much back in shipping news headlines, with one key deal seemingly agreed and plenty of others under negotiation ahead of a deadline next week. The July 9 expiration date for the White House’s pause on April’s reciprocal tariffs on a long list of…
Trump’s signature legislative package contains significant shipbuilding provisions
Sam ChambersJuly 4, 2025 White House White House Donald Trump’s so-called big beautiful bill, a signature legislative package, which has just passed both the US House of Representatives and Senate, contains significant provisions aimed at revitalising American shipbuilding and the broader maritime industrial base. The bill allocates substantial funding and introduces new initiatives with a…
FMC launches anti-trust investigation into World Shipping Council
US shippers may not welcome FMC’s anti-trust investigation as Trump administration takes a more aggressive stance against shipping. Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent July 2, 2025 CREDIT: SENATE DEMOCRATS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS In its latest apparent attack on ‘foreign shipping’ the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has launched an investigation into the US anti-trust regulations, a move…
New York/New Jersey holds firm in May as Trump advances China and Canada trade talks
Published on 30-06-2025 at 08:29 Port of New York Shutterstock Trade talks continue as the U.S. and China agree on a framework to ease the shipment of rare earth minerals, while Canada withdraws its digital services tax to maintain stalled negotiations with Washington. US ports have reported mixed impacts on container volumes from trade tariffs,…
100-day warning for EU ETS deadline
24.06.2025 With only 100 days left until the September 30 EU ETS deadline, the Columbia Group has warned shipowners of serious risks. “Fines, access restrictions and reputational damage are imminent,” said Philippos Ioulianou, managing director of EmissionLink. By March, under 40% of companies had submitted verified emissions data. The scheme’s national implementation is…
EU-UK deal can reset trade deficit says Logistics UK
Published on 20-06-2025 at 06:51 Sunrise over Southampton. A new dawn for UK-EU trade relations is called for. DP World The UK’s trading relationships have suffered more than the EU’s following its exit from the trade bloc, according to business group Logistics UK. It says the country’s exports are down 23% from 2017 to 2024,…
Poland’s strategic maritime plan
Published on 19-06-2025 at 07:11 Port of Gdansk Port of Gdansk Authority Poland’s Government has announced a new strategic plan for the maritime sector that it believes will bolster security levels in the Baltic Sea region, enhance the economy’s shipping sector and boost cargo volumes through the country’s ports. Addressing the 11th International Maritime Congress…
EU proposes Black Sea security hub to counter Russian threats
THE EU plans to create a regional centre to boost Black Sea maritime security amid rising Russian threats, reports London’s Port Technology International. The proposed hub would enhance monitoring and intelligence sharing among Black Sea and EU nations. According to Reuters, the centre will collect and share real-time data on maritime and seabed infrastructure. The…
How to fund renewed US shipbuilding ambition?
The SHIPS for America Act and other measures to rebuild the US fleet leave open the question of where the money would come from. Barry Parker, New York Correspondent June 18, 2025 CREDIT: HANWHA PHILLY SHIPYARD The SHIPs Act took centre stage at Marine Money’s New York event this week reflecting the industry wide attention…
New Fees on Floating Garages Are Trump’s Latest Effort to Revive U.S. Shipbuilding
President Trump is targeting special foreign-made vessels called ro-ros, which transport vehicles, but the fees could raise the price of cars up to $300. Specialized ships that transport vehicles, known as roll-on, roll-off vessels, or ro-ros, have long been a crucial part of global supply chains.Credit…George Etheredge for The New York Times By Peter Eavis…
China issues rare earth permits to US automotive suppliers
CHINA has granted export licences to rare-earth suppliers of the top three US automakers, according to two sources familiar with the matter, reports Reuters. At least some of the licences are valid for six months, the two sources said, declining to be named because the information is not public. It was not immediately clear what…
USTR port fees fail to deter new ship orders at Chinese yards
Nearly half of all newbuildings in tonnage terms ordered since the initial USTR proposals have been contracted with Chinese shipyards. Marcus Hand, Editor June 10, 2025 U-Ming orders bulker pair in China in April this yearCREDIT: CSSC A global shipbuilding report by HSBC Global Research highlighted that a significant volume of orders continued to be…
Pentagon Calls Shipbuilding a Top Priority, But Congress Says Budget Falls Short
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump’s budget request for the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Mike Schuler June 11, 2025 The Department of Defense has placed shipbuilding at the heart of its FY2026 strategy,…
Cautious Optimism on US, China Tariff Truce
By Kate Holton, Alistair Smout and Andrea Shalal June 11, 2025 Copyright Dilok/AdobeStock U.S. and Chinese officials said on Tuesday they had agreed on a framework to get their trade truce back on track and remove China’s export restrictions on rare earths while offering little sign of a durable resolution to longstanding trade tensions. At…
US firms pushing tariff costs onto China suppliers
AMERICAN retail giants are demanding their Chinese suppliers shoulder 50 to 66 per cent of the cost of US import duties, reports Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. US retailers have been locked in talks with Chinese producers for weeks over how to handle the additional costs caused by the trade war, with the firms…
Congress Passes Maritime Security and Cargo Preference Bills to Bolster U.S. Ports and Fleet
FILE PHOTO: A person walks near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo Mike Schuler Total Views: 0 June 9, 2025 The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a package of nine transportation-related bills, including several aimed at enhancing maritime supply chain security, reinforcing the U.S. flag fleet, and cracking…
USTR proposes changes to car carrier fees
Published on 09-06-2025 at 11:43 Shutterstock With the public comment period underway, the USTR appears poised to roll back its contentious port fee plan targeting all foreign-built vehicle carriers. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed changes to its Section 301 trade action that would impose port fees on all foreign-built…
BIMCO drafts standard clause in response to USTR tariffs
Published on 05-06-2025 at 09:33 Illustration Shutterstock BIMCO is drafting a contract clause to address legal issues from new US fees on China-linked vessels calling at US ports. The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) has begun drafting a standard contractual clause to address legal uncertainties arising from new measures announced by the United States…
Hapag-Lloyd CEO: China–US bookings more than doubled since tariff pause
Published on 04-06-2025 at 09:32 Hapag-Lloyd vessel Tokyo Express at the Manila International Container Terminal ICTSI With China-US bookings more than doubled in recent weeks following a pause in tariffs, the demand is now outpacing available vessel capacity and driving up short-term rates. Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said bookings between China and the United…
Rotterdam port sector calls for swift cabinet appointment after Dutch govt collapse
Published on 03-06-2025 at 10:45 Geert Wilders (PVV) in an interview during the Plenary Debate at the Tweede Kamer on June 4, 2024 in Den Haag, Netherlands Deltalinqs, the organisation representing all companies operating in the Port of Rotterdam, has called for a swift formation of a new cabinet following the collapse of the Dutch…
A new course direction for the Federal Maritime Commission
The US regulatory body covering liner shipping is undertaking an investigation into flag-state practices. Barry Parker, New York Correspondent May 30, 2025 Louis Sola chair of the FMCCREDIT: FMC The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), is well known for its regulations concerning liner shipping, most recently enforcement of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), enacted in…
Court Battle Over Trump Tariffs Prolongs Shipper Uncertainty as Holiday Season Nears
A drone view shows a ship and containers at the Port of Santos, in Santos, Brazil April 3, 2025. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli Reuters May 30, 2025 LOS ANGELES, May 29 (Reuters) – Importer uncertainty ahead of the vital holiday ocean shipping season remains high, the executive director of the busiest port in the U.S. said on Thursday, as…
Appeals court reinstates Trump tariffs 24 hours after CIT ruling struck them down
Published on 30-05-2025 at 09:35 Shutterstock The legal tug-of-war over Donald Trump’s tariffs escalated on Thursday, as a federal appeals court temporarily reinstated the duties, just a day after a lower court had struck them down. The US Court of Appeals granted an emergency request from Trump’s legal team to pause a ruling issued Wednesday…
Trump’s Tariffs Back On After Appeals Court Grants Stay
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Reuters May 29, 2025 By Dietrich Knauth, Sarah Marsh May 29 (Reuters) – A…
America’s difficult path to resurrect its shipyards
Sam ChambersMay 29, 2025 Philly Shipyard Philly Shipyard Donald Trump’s bid to resurrect American shipbuilding faces some stern demographic challenges. The American president has made shipbuilding a central plank of his industrial policies since returning to power in January. However, the maths behind having 250 US-built ships in 10 years’ time look daunting. A new…
U.S. Maritime Power in Decline: New Report Reveals Critical National Security Risks
Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO-202, right, conducts a consolidated loading with commercial tanker MT Empire State. (U.S. Navy photo by Patrick W. Menah Jr.) Mike Schuler May 28, 2025 A new report released today by the Open Markets Institute paints a dire picture of America’s diminishing maritime capabilities, highlighting unprecedented risks…
Trump extends EU tariff suspension to July 9
Published on 26-05-2025 at 08:21 United States President Donald Trump in Washington DC. Shutterstock Trump has granted the European Union an extension until July 9 to reach a trade deal, delaying a planned 50% tariff. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he has agreed to extend a suspension of a planned 50% tariff on…
Trump Says US Wants To Make Tanks And Ships, Not T-Shirts
Photo of Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard in South Korea, which recently obtained the Master Ship Repair Agreement. Photo via Hanwha Ocean Reuters May 25, 2025 MORRISTOWN, New Jersey, May 25 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday his tariff policy was aimed at promoting the domestic manufacturing of tanks and technology products, not sneakers and T-shirts. Speaking…