by Dave Akers, IHSA "Good Judgment comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." — Will Rogers Here is how the modern shipping business mirrors the Wild West: 1. The “Gold Rush” Boom and Bust Cycles The Old West was defined by the gold rush with sudden, explosive wealth that created overnight millionaires, followed by devastating busts that left…
CONTINUE READINGFeatured
New Sec. 301 Forced Labor Tariffs
by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — On July 24, new tariffs were imposed on 60 economies (59 countries and the European Union) based on whether they either have lax laws prohibiting imports made by forced labor or no such laws at all. Thus, these new Sec. 301 tariffs under the Trade Act of 1974 are 10% for the economies with loosely enforced laws and 12.5% for those with…
CONTINUE READINGTariff Updates for July
by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — Sec. 122 Tariffs Expire July 24 When the Supreme Court struck down International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs in February 2026, President Trump shifted them to 10% tariffs under Sec. 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This was a temporary move because presidential actions under Sec. 122 are limited to 150 days unless…
CONTINUE READINGNavigating The Pending “Memorandum of Understanding”
by Dave Akers, IHSA The pending Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz that was heavily brokered by Pakistan between the U.S. and Iran was signed on June 17. However, it is still considered a “pending” document in the trade world due to it being an interim framework agreement and not a finalized treaty. While it represents…
CONTINUE READINGThe Shifting Tariff Landscape
by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs aren’t legal, Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) carried out orders from the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and quickly set up a system to process IEEPA refunds. Thus, on April 20, CBP launched its…
CONTINUE READINGNavigating the Ocean Freight Market
by Dave Akers, IHSA "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” — George Carlin Navigating the ocean freight market right now is a masterclass in managing volatility. As of mid-May 2026, ocean container carriers are aggressively manipulating capacity on both coasts to defend freight rates against a…
CONTINUE READINGIEEPA Tariff Refunds and New Sec. 301 Tariffs
by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs aren’t legal, Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) carried out orders from the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and quickly set up a system to process IEEPA refunds. Thus, on April 20, CBP launched its…
CONTINUE READINGNavigating the 2026 Contract Finish Line
by Dave Akers, IHSA Stephen Hawking said "Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Based on our industry, we must be the founding members of Mensa. As we reach the final days of the 2026 contract season, the landscape has been fundamentally reshaped. Transpacific ocean carriers have responded to the soaring fuel prices caused by the ongoing Middle East crisis by…
CONTINUE READINGNavigating the Bunker Crisis
by Dave Akers, IHSA "A recession is when a neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours." — Ronald Reagan The ocean shipping industry is currently navigating a significant crisis as of March 2026, primarily driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. These disruptions have forced carriers to implement Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) to offset…
CONTINUE READING- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 23
- Next Page »
