Competitive Edge
June 11th, 2025
Stay Current with InterlogUSA
Market Update
Tariffs –
President Trump recently announced a bump to the steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50%, with Wednesday (June 4th) at 12:01am EDT, being the in effect date, per an Executive Order. The United Kingdom has been exempt from the additional 25% increase, however.
Additionally, last week the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled some of President Trump’s tariffs to be unconstitutional. A temporary stay now allows the tariffs to remain in place while the ruling is appealed.Â
Furthermore, trade talks between the U.S. and China took place this week. As of this morning (June 11th), President Trump said a “deal is done.” What that means remains to be seen, as nothing has been officially signed, according to CBS News.
Port Infrastructure –Â
Port Houston will receive $131 million in funding to their ship channel construction, operations and maintenance. On top of that, the port reported strong volumes in April, per the port’s press release. Specifically, they handled 387,478 TEUs throughout their terminals, which is a 20% increase from the year prior.
Questions about Tariffs?
Feeling unsure about how tariffs might affect your goods? Whether you’re exploring exemption options or just need a clearer picture, we’re here to help. Send us an email at [email protected]Â
Freight News: U.S. Imports Slide in May
U.S. container imports fell sharply in May – down 9.7% from April and 7.2% compared to the same month last year, according to the latest Descartes Global Shipping Report. Imports from China saw a particularly steep drop, falling 20.8% month-over-month (637,001 TEUs) and 28.5% year-over-year.
Port activity also shifted notably. East and Gulf Coast ports gained market share as volumes declined at major West Coast gateways. The Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach experienced significant decreases, down 18.4% and 22.4%, respectively. The Port of Tacoma saw the sharpest decline at 25.6%, while Port Houston dropped 8.6%. In contrast, some East Coast ports saw modest gains – Charleston increased by 6% and Baltimore rose by 2.6%.
On the global front, U.S. imports from Hong Kong and Germany fell 10.3% and 5.6%, respectively. However, not all regions saw declines. Imports from Vietnam surged 18.1%, India rose 10.4%, and Taiwan increased by 4.4%, signaling growth in trade with Southeast and South Asia.
Did You Know? With Johnny Cargo!
What do you think the answer is?
InterlogUSA’s chat bot Johnny Cargo sure is an inquisitive soul. However, he doesn’t just ask about industry-related trivia. Johnny also loves to ask supply chain professionals about their shipping arrangements and which areas can benefit from InterlogUSA’s assistance as an end-to-end freight forwarder.
He works around the clock and is always available for conversation.
Why is Blocking and Bracing Your Cargo Important?
If you’re looking to avoid cargo damage, taking precautions can help steer you out of harms way.Â
Blocking and Bracing is a way to help secure your cargo to help avoid damage during transit. The ultimate goal of blocking and bracing is to keep your goods from shifting length-wise (front-to-back).
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