| | | | | | Industry News Customs Brokerage News Eastern News | | | | | | | | | | Europe’s largest inland container terminal opens in Germany | | Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT), Europe's largest inland container facility, has opened in Germany, facilitating active rail traffic with China. The initial phase covers 155,000 square meters, with plans to expand to 235,000 square meters within two years, aiming for an annual capacity of 850,000 TEUs. Strategically situated on the Rhine River, DGT serves as a critical hub in the Rhine-Alpine corridor, connecting the Mediterranean to Northern Europe. The terminal is designed to be climate-neutral, employing renewable energy and hydrogen technologies. Upon full operation, it will feature six cranes and 12 rail tracks, accommodating up to 20 trains, 400 trucks, and six ships daily. Read more | | | | | | | |
‘Down for the foreseeable future’: Truckers grapple with Hurricane Helene’s aftermath | | Hurricane Helene caused significant devastation in the Southeast, resulting in over 100 fatalities and millions without power. Major highways, including Interstate 40 and Interstate 26, remain impassable, hindering aid delivery and complicating recovery efforts. High winds downed trees and power lines, while flooding swept away homes and vehicles, showcasing the storm's severity. Priority has shifted to delivering bottled water to affected regions, as many water treatment facilities are non-operational. The destruction poses further challenges for an already struggling supply chain, exacerbated by the ongoing disruptions at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. Experts warn that the combination of infrastructure damage and existing economic pressures may lead to the closure of some carriers in the region, although widespread freight rates are not expected to improve significantly. Read more | | | | | | | | China tightens rules on hazardous cargo at Ningbo | | | | | | | | | | Carriers look to incoming government to act on Mexican port challenges | | | | | | | | | | Overtime strike begins at the Port of Montreal | | As of October 10, 2024, an overtime strike initiated by the Longshoremen’s Union CUPE, Local 375, at the Port of Montreal is raising concerns about disruptions to the logistics chain and the supply of goods. While all terminals remain open, longshoremen will not work overtime, leading to potential processing delays and a backlog of containers. Approximately ten ships may be impacted, particularly at the Cast, Maisonneuve, Racine, Viau, Logistec, CanEst, and Lantic terminals, though liquid bulk and certain other services remain unaffected. The strike could disrupt about 50% of goods transiting through the port, including essential food, medical supplies, and raw materials, thereby threatening supply chain reliability and the competitiveness of the St. Lawrence maritime corridor. In response, the Montreal Port Authority has activated its business continuity plan and established a web page for updates on operational impacts. Read more | | | | | | | | | | | | Canada's final list of steel and aluminum products from China that will be subject to a 25% surtax | | | | | | | | | | US locks in steep China tariff hikes, some industries warn of disruptions | | The Biden administration has finalized a series of tariff hikes on Chinese imports, aimed at protecting strategic U.S. industries from China’s state-driven practices. Beginning September 27, a 100% duty will be imposed on electric vehicles, alongside a 50% tariff on solar cells and a 25% duty on steel, aluminum, EV batteries, and critical minerals. By 2025, additional 50% tariffs on semiconductors, including silicon wafers and polysilicon used in solar panels, will take effect. Despite requests from automakers, tariffs on essential EV battery materials remain unchanged. Trump-era tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods, covering products like toys and industrial machinery, will continue at rates between 7.5% and 25%. Temporary relief has been granted for U.S. port operators, allowing exclusions for Chinese cranes ordered before May 14, 2026. Tariffs on medical face masks and surgical gloves are set to rise to 50%, while duties on syringes will immediately increase to 100%, with a one-year exemption for syringes used to feed infants. The U.S. Trade Representative will also review exclusion requests for certain Chinese industrial machinery categories. Read more | | | | | | | | Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect American Consumers, Workers, and Businesses by Cracking Down on De Minimis Shipments with Unsafe, Unfairly Traded Products | | On September 13, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled new measures to address the misuse of the de minimis exemption, which allows duty-free entry for shipments valued at $800 or less. This exemption has led to a dramatic increase in shipments, from 140 million to over a billion annually, largely from Chinese e-commerce platforms. This surge complicates enforcement and consumer protection, facilitating the entry of unsafe products, unfairly traded goods, and illicit drugs. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will implement new rules to enhance transparency, exclude certain products from the exemption, improve data collection, and require electronic Certificates of Compliance for consumer goods. With 89% of cargo seizures and 97% of narcotics seizures in 2024 originating from de minimis shipments, the Administration is also pushing for comprehensive legislative reforms by year-end to modernize trade laws, better target illicit goods, and address forced labor. CBP processes nearly four million de minimis shipments daily and will gain stronger enforcement tools under these new actions. Read more | | | | | | | | US customs clamps down on vague cargo descriptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eastern Shipping Worldwide Supports RMCH-CNI at Annual Sporting Clays Tournament | | The RMHC-CNI Sporting Clays Tournament, held on September 20 and 21 at Northbrook Sports Club in Hainesville, IL, achieved remarkable success by raising $330,000 to support RMHC-CNI’s mission of providing essential healthcare services and community assistance to families facing medical emergencies. Eastern proudly supported this initiative, with staff members Kate Burt and Rick Bloniarz volunteering their time at the event. Participants enjoyed a catered breakfast and lunch, designated training stations for newcomers, various challenging shooting stations guided by experienced trainers, as well as silent auctions, raffles, and side events with prizes, all contributing to a memorable and impactful experience. Read more | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Our mailing address is: One Pierce Place, Suite 460 E, Itasca, IL 60143
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