Imports at retail container ports hit a new record this spring and volume during the first half of 2021 is expected to be a third higher than last year as the economy continues to recover from the pandemic, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
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The situation in the Suez Canal has now been resolved, with the backlog having cleared and all vessels proceeding to their destinations. The impact on Noatum North America and its customers was thankfully minimal.
The unprecedented surge of imports at retail container ports that began last summer is expected to continue at least through the end of this summer as retailers work to meet increased consumer demand, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
On April 5, 2021, the U.S. Court of International Trade issued an opinion against the Section 232 derivative product tariffs implemented on Proclamation 9980 which applied a 25% tariff on steel derivative products and a 10% tariff on aluminum derivative products.
On Friday, March 26, 2021, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office announced in a press release the Next Steps of Section 301 Digital Service Tax (DST) Investigations for Austria, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
On Monday, March 29, 2021, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai announced that the USTR would Suspend Trade Engagement with Burma following Military Coup and Violence against Civilians. In the message, the USTR said the suspension of all U.S. engagement with Burma under the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) will remain in effect until a return of a democratically elected government.
On Monday, March 29, 2021, upon request from the Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued CSMS Message #46800973 delaying the effective date of the Aluminum Import (AIM) license requirement until June 28, 2021.
Inchcape Shipping Services has announced that the container ship blocking the Suez Canal has been refloated as of early this morning, Monday, March 29. The good news has also been confirmed by Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, according to his statement with state TV, published by CNN.
As is widely reported in the Global media, the very large container ship “Ever Given“ was grounded during transit in the Suez Canal on Tuesday, March 23, completely blocking the canal for the passage of other vessels.