By Léon Levinas-Ménard
1. U.S.–UK TARIFF DEAL FRAMEWORK
The United States and United Kingdom agreed on a preliminary trade framework focusing on tariffs and market access – the first such pact of the Trump administration’s new reciprocal tariff agenda. The outline would keep a 10% blanket tariff on UK imports but slash duties on autos, steel and ethanol, creating a 5 billion USD opportunity for new exports (including 700 million USD in ethanol and 250 million USD in beef) that benefits farmers and manufacturers.
Sources:
https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/us-trade-deal-uk-tariffs-donald-trump/747521/
https://talkinglogistics.com/2025/05/09/above-the-fold-supply-chain-logistics-news-may-9-2025/
https://newsmeter.com/Supplychaindigital.com/
2. AMAZON’S VULCAN WAREHOUSE ROBOT
Amazon unveiled Vulcan, its first warehouse robot with a sense of touch that uses AI and force sensors to safely handle products. The two-armed robot can autonomously pick up about 75% of Amazon’s inventory items – even delicate goods – and has already processed half a million orders in pilot sites, marking a big leap in warehouse automation and worker safety.
Sources:
https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/07/amazon-debuts-a-warehouse-robot-with-a-sense-of-touch/
3. BLUE YONDER’S AI SUPPLY CHAIN AGENTS
Supply chain software firm Blue Yonder introduced five AI-driven agents as part of its new Cognitive Solutions platform at its ICON 2025 conference, aiming to streamline planning and logistics. These intelligent tools help companies rapidly adjust to demand fluctuations and disruptions, improving decision-making speed and resiliency in operations.
Sources:
https://newsmeter.com/Supplychaindigital.com/
https://media.blueyonder.com/blue-yonder-unveils-advanced-ai-driven-cognitive-solutions-with-latest-product-release/
4. CARGO THEFT SURGE IN THE U.S.
Cargo thieves are attacking the U.S. supply chain at record levels, with criminal networks using tactics like forged invoices and impersonating legitimate trucking staff to hijack freight shipments. Experts estimate close to 1 billion USD in goods are stolen annually in these sophisticated heists, pushing shippers and logistics providers to tighten security and tracking measures.
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/09/cargo-thieves-attack-supply-chain.html
https://ground.news/article/cargo-thieves-are-attacking-the-us-supply-chain-at-alarming-rates
5. CHINA’S PUSH FOR HOMEGROWN COMPONENTS
Chinese companies are accelerating a purge of foreign components from their supply chains in a bid for self-reliance amid trade tensions. An analysis of corporate filings found that over two dozen Shenzhen- and Shanghai-listed manufacturers have recently ramped up replacing imported parts with domestic alternatives, reflecting a strategic shift toward local sourcing.
