1. US–CHINA TRADE WAR ESCALATES WITH 245% TARIFF THREATS
The White House signalled that some Chinese imports could soon be hit with tariffs as high as 245 %, the steepest rate yet in the ongoing dispute. Beijing immediately countered with duties of up to 125 % on a broad range of US products. The sharply higher levies have jolted global supply chains: importers face soaring landed costs, while manufacturers in North America and Europe are scrambling to re‑route orders or renegotiate contracts to avoid sudden price shocks.
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/china-245-trump-tariff-2060295
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/17/china-says-it-will-pay-no-attention-to-trumps-tariff-numbers-game
2. 21% DUTY LOOMS FOR MEXICAN TOMATOES ENTERING THE US
The US Commerce Department moved to terminate a 2019 tomato‑trade pact, meaning most Mexican tomatoes will incur an antidumping duty of roughly 21 % from 14 July. Mexico ships 99 % of its exported tomatoes to the US, a trade worth about 2.7 billion USD in 2023, so grocers and restaurant suppliers expect higher produce costs and possible shortages as growers and distributors adjust.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-says-most-tomatoes-imported-mexico-face-21-duty-july-14-2025-04-14
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/white-house-slapping-21-tariffs-on-tomatoes-from-mexico
3. IMPORTERS WHIPSAWED BY ON‑AGAIN, OFF‑AGAIN TARIFF TIMELINES
After front‑loading cargo in late March to beat threatened tariffs, US container bookings collapsed 64 % during the week of 1–8 April when some levies were briefly paused. Retail giants—including Amazon—have since cancelled or delayed orders, while many shippers shift sourcing to Vietnam or Cambodia to hedge against China‑specific duties. The rapid swings highlight how policy volatility is distorting demand forecasts and forcing just‑in‑case inventory strategies.
Sources:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-import-bookings-down-64-154541951.html
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-imports-set-fall-20-second-half-2025-trump-tariffs-nrf-forecast-shows-2025-04-09
4. DHL SUSPENDS E‑COMMERCE SHIPMENTS OVER 800 USD TO THE US
Effective 21 April, DHL Express halted business‑to‑consumer parcels valued above 800 USD bound for US addresses. The carrier cites a sudden surge in formal customs‑entry filings after US Customs lowered the informal threshold to 800 USD (from 2 500 USD) on 5 April. Until DHL scales up brokerage capacity, high‑value cross‑border orders will be delayed or rerouted—an immediate headache for marketplaces and luxury brands that rely on express delivery.
Sources:
https://www.theverge.com/news/652977/dhl-shipment-delays-us-tariffs-business-to-consumer
https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/important-information/2025/shipments-to-the-united-states-with-a-customs-value-exceeding-usd-800.html
5. DE MINIMIS LOOPHOLE CLOSES FOR CHINA AND HONG KONG PARCELS
From 2 May, all low‑value parcels under 800 USD arriving from China or Hong Kong will lose duty‑free status and face either a 145 % ad‑valorem tariff or a flat fee starting at 100 USD (rising to 200 USD on 1 June). Analysts project the rule could strip 22 billion USD in revenue from trans‑Pacific air‑cargo lanes over three years and force platforms like Shein and Temu to raise US prices.
Sources:
https://www.investopedia.com/de-minimis-exemption-rule-11715853
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-closes-de-minimis-exemptions-to-combat-chinas-role-in-americas-synthetic-opioid-crisis
6. MISUMI BUYS FICTIV FOR 350 MILLION USD IN DIGITAL MANUFACTURING PUSH
Japanese components giant Misumi Group announced an all‑cash acquisition of San Francisco‑based Fictiv for 350 million USD. Fictiv’s cloud platform uses artificial intelligence to match engineers with a vetted network of 250 + fabrication partners. Integrating the software aims to shorten prototype lead times and give Misumi customers on‑demand access to global capacity—another sign of heavy investment in supply‑chain software.
Sources:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fictiv-acquired-for-350m-by-japanese-components-supplier
https://www.therobotreport.com/misumi-acquires-fictiv-for-350m-to-scale-component-offerings
7. CHINA AND CAMBODIA SEAL 1.16 BILLION USD CANAL DEAL
Beijing and Phnom Penh finalised a 1.16 billion USD public‑private agreement to build the 151.6 km Funan Techo Canal, giving Cambodia a direct route from the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand. With Chinese firms holding 49 % of the project, the canal could reroute regional trade and reduce reliance on Vietnam’s port network—though environmental groups warn of risks to downstream rice production.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/c471352392844998057c24752ba6d4fa
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/cambodia-eyes-more-china-help-xi-visits-amid-us-tariff-tensions-2025-04-17
8. ARAMEX TURNS TO AI VIA SHIPSY PARTNERSHIP
Middle‑East logistics provider Aramex signed a master services agreement with Indian SaaS firm Shipsy to embed AI‑driven route optimisation, courier planning, and real‑time delay prediction across its network. The tie‑up underpins Aramex’s rollout of same‑day delivery in key markets and reflects a broader trend of carriers investing in software to squeeze more productivity from last‑mile fleets.
Sources:
https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/aramex-partners-with-shipsy-to-enhance-last-mile-efficiency-and-productivity-using-ai-302427507.html
https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/aramex-taps-shipsys-ai-to-turbocharge-last-mile-delivery-and-launch-same-day-shipping-471915-2025-04-14
9. XPENG REVIEWS SUPPLY CHAIN TO WEATHER TARIFF TURBULENCE
Chinese EV maker Xpeng completed a “thorough analysis” of its supplier base to safeguard production from escalating US‑China tariffs. Executives said current sales remain unaffected but acknowledged the need for contingency sourcing and buffer inventories as geopolitical risks rise—echoing similar resilience moves by tech and auto peers exporting to Europe and North America.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinas-xpeng-says-it-reviewed-supply-chain-insulate-it-tariff-turmoil-2025-04-16
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/chinas-xpeng-says-reviewed-supply-023314779.html
10. PROLOGIS SEES STOCKPILING DEMAND BUT FLAGS WIDER UNCERTAINTY
Warehouse‑owner Prologis kept its 2025 earnings guidance but noted that customers are “more cautious,” pulling forward inventory to hedge against tariff shocks. Occupancy dipped to just under 95 %, yet executives believe a “disconnected world” will ultimately require extra logistics real estate as firms localise supply chains—hinting at longer‑term demand despite near‑term volatility.
Sources:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/prologis-sticks-with-2025-outlook-as-customers-get-more-cautious
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/prologis-sticks-2025-outlook-customers-182932473.html