News / Supply Chain Alerts

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) announced that the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – Train & Engine (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have delivered a 72-hour notice of their respective plans to strike on April 21, 2018 at 12:01am EDT. The two unions represent over 3,300 engineers, conductors, signal and communication workers.

According to a statement released by CP late last Friday, work stoppage would “severely impact CPs ability to continue to provide safe and efficient freight and passenger/commuter service.” This strike would come at an especially difficult time, as pressure from commodity shippers continues to build after winter challenges and service disruptions.

CP continues to work closely with both unions to reach a negotiated settlement. Federal mediators are involved and several members of the Canadian government have indicated that they are monitoring this situation closely and may consider back-to-work legislation, if necessary. CP CEO, Keith Creel, advised in a statement on Wednesday, “We remain committed to achieving a win-win solution and urge the two unions to work closely with us and the federal mediators to achieve a positive outcome as soon as possible in the hours leading up to the deadline.”

For more information, please contact your local MIQ Logistics representative. 

Dense fog has hampered vessel and port operations for Shanghai and Ningbo ports during the past three weeks, resulting in lengthy vessel delays, significant port congestion, outbound vessels unable to depart, and inbound vessels unable to dock. Operations have been further impacted by the implementation of Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration traffic control measures on the Yangtze River waterway. Average vessel delays of three to four days, up to a week, have been experienced.

The MIQ Logistics Shanghai office has confirmed that Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals have resumed operations and are working to return to normal. A recent advisory from American President Lines (APL) states that “the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration has advised it may take two to three weeks for operations to return to normal in Shanghai.”

For more information, please contact your local MIQ Logistics representative. 

The latest United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed application of an additional 25% duty covering more than 1300 import tariff classifications including: medicaments; pumps and valves; machinery for the oil and gas, agriculture, food, beverage, and apparel industries; motors; generators; trucks; bulldozers; railway cars; automobiles; helicopters; airplanes; boats; and consumer products such as dishwashers, microwaves, TVs, and VCRs. The list of products, defined by 8-digit subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), is set out in the Annex to the Federal Register Notice (click here).

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The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed another $50B worth of 25% tariffs on China imports, to which China has responded with 25% tariffs on another 106 American products.

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On Friday March 23rd, President Trump signed the omnibus spending bill which included language for Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) renewal.  GSP will be reinstated on April 23^rd (30 days after enactment) and valid through December 31^st, 2020.  GSP will also apply retroactively to entries from January 1^st through the reinstatement date.

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The most recent Nor’easter of the season is impacting logistics from Washington D.C. to Boston. 

The latest storm summary from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) shows snow accumulation throughout 9 states, with some of the heaviest accumulation for Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

With snow expected to continue for the New York and New Jersey, and Washington D.C. areas from Wednesday into Thursday, there have already been hundreds of flight cancelations and port closures.  Below is a summary of what is being reported as of Wed (3/21).

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The President announced today that he concurred with the Commerce Department’s findings in its Section 232 investigations that imports of steel and aluminum impair national security. Pursuant to the recommendations contained in the Commerce Department’s Report, the President ordered a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on steel articles and a 10 percent ad valorem tariff on aluminum articles, as defined below, imported from all countries except Canada and Mexico.  These additional duties will be effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 23, 2018.

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This is a follow-up to our February 22, 2018 Supply Chain Alert regarding the Commerce Department report on the results of the Section 232 investigation concerning the effects of imports of steel and aluminum on national security. The President is required to make a decision on the steel recommendations by April 11, 2018, and on the aluminum recommendations by April 19, 2018.

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The Commerce Department on February 16, 2018 released the results of the Section 232 investigation on the effects of imports of steel and aluminum on national security.  The President is required to make a decision on the steel recommendations by April 11, 2018, and on the aluminum recommendations by April 19, 2018.

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MIQ Global Houston office is closed for today (Jan 16th) due to inclement winter weather.  According to the National Weather Service the Houston area is currently under a Winter Storm Warning for northern portions of the Houston area, while a Winter Storm Advisory is in effect for southern portions of the area. These advisories are in effect until midnight tonight, but may be replaced by a Hard Freeze Warning before this afternoon. Due to the fact that the National Weather Service has advised to avoid traveling, our MIQ Global Houston office will remain closed.

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