Articles

Cross-border Trade

Raul Alfonso

New Directions in U.S.-Mexico Trade and Logistics

Q: Why is trade with Mexico so important and where do you see the opportunities? A: Mexico is already the United States’ second largest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods totaling over $615 billion per year. The recent implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), combined with global sourcing strategies resulting in more nearshoring […]

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USMCA FAQ

USMCA FAQ

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement to drive mutually beneficial trade among the three countries. Thomas Insights answers some key questions about the agreement. Why is a North American trade deal so important? Mexico and Canada are the United States’ biggest export market, supporting 12 million American jobs and […]

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Postal Operators Deliver on E-Commerce

Postal Operators Deliver on E-Commerce

Parcels and cross-border e-commerce take precedence over traditional services, such as mail, for postal operators, according to Escher’s Future of Posts 2020 report. Operators also say they need to continuously manage growing postal e-commerce traffic, with a greater emphasis on the last mile and supporting retailers. The survey results also indicate: Postal networks adapted during […]

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Bill Michels

Tariffs: Is it Time to Rethink What Goes Where?

Did you think the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods were temporary bargaining chips to get concessions from China? Now that essentially every item imported from China is subject to tariffs, are you thinking again? As the U.S.-China trade war shows little sign of ending, supply chain managers have to find new ways to keep costs […]

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Avoiding the Trade War Squeeze

As trade volatility between the United States and China escalates, shippers find few options for avoiding a painful squeeze. While some are shifting production to other nations in the region, others find those countries are less than ready to handle the spike. In the thick of peak season preparations, here are some ways to ensure […]

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USMCA’s Impact on the Industrial Truck Industry

The United States Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) is critical to ensuring a robust North American economy. The agreement, signed by the respective country’s presidents on November 30, 2018, modernizes and enhances trade relations between the three countries and is now pending ratification by each country’s legislature. Passage is crucial to maintaining a healthy U.S. […]

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Rick Brumett

Don’t Gamble With Trade Compliance

Recent trends in tariffs, enforcement, and e-commerce shipping complicate the international trade landscape. To avoid significant fines, businesses must learn to dot every i and cross every t in the compliance process. Even existing allowances and privileges are being threatened, challenged, or taken away from shippers who violate trade regulations, creating an immediate threat to profitability.

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New Freight Train Could Boost Cross-Border E-Commerce in China

China is taking new steps to improve cross-border e-commerce, adding a new route to its China-Europe freight train service. The freight’s maiden voyage was from Zhengzhou to Liege in Belgium. The service, the first of its kind to depart from the capital of central China’s Henan Province, operates under customs surveillance code 9610. China’s General […]

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Trade War Threatens Sourcing Ethics, Quality Control

Trade War Threatens Sourcing Ethics, Quality Control

The U.S.-China tariff standoff in 2018 triggered challenges to global sourcing and there may be subsequent threats to ethics and quality control, according to a recent report by global quality control and supplier compliance service provider QIMA. The geographic sourcing diversification movement away from China is already underway, confirms QIMA’s year-end survey of 100+ businesses […]

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