President Trump’s draconian new tariffs on US imports from top trading partners threaten to disrupt international freight, express and parcel flows worldwide in the coming weeks and months as companies race to adjust their supply chain and export planning, likely resulting in fluctuating demand, rates and capacity for air, ocean and land transportation.
The World Trade Organization has already warned that the tariffs could lead to a trade war as other countries retaliate with their own tariffs on imports from the US, while the air cargo industry is facing a “seismic shock” due to the potential impact on e-commerce volumes, according to market researchers Xeneta.
Top partners hit hard
