Confused By New USTR Port Fees? What Shippers Need to Know

Freight shippers are no strangers to uncertainty. And right now, tariffs are one of the biggest unknowns hanging over the industry.
A foreign trade zone (FTZ) allows companies to defer, reduce, or eliminate customs duties on imported goods.
Using an FTZ warehouse or yard can reduce tariff costs by allowing assembly or manufacturing before duties apply.
FTZs provide operational flexibility, especially for complex supply chains importing multi-component goods.
Bonded warehouses offer simpler compliance but fewer manipulation options and limited storage duration.

The fear of cargo being lost, damaged, or otherwise compromised in transit is a common one. For shippers with international supply chains, these anxieties are intensified by unpredictable factors like war and geopolitical tensions, tariffs, piracy, natural disasters, and more.

On June 11, 2024, the Canadian government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the union representing over 9,000 Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers, reached a tentative collective agreement.
New of the agreement eased fears of a labor action that would have slowed activity at the border, including the movement of Canada-bound freight shipments.
Importing freight into the U.S. from another country can feel intimidating — especially if you don’t have a lot of experience doing so. Getting cargo through customs efficiently is important; a delay at the border can set your timelines back substantially, making it more difficult to develop trusting relationships with your customers.

The world we live in is really quite large. And with seven continents, 195 countries and 835 inland and seaports currently active across the globe, moving freight internationally gets more complicated every year.
Posted by Jay Thomassen on Feb 26, 2025 9:00:00 AM
Freight shippers are no strangers to uncertainty. And right now, tariffs are one of the biggest unknowns hanging over the industry.
Posted by Brandon Nelson on Oct 23, 2024 9:00:00 AM
A foreign trade zone (FTZ) allows companies to defer, reduce, or eliminate customs duties on imported goods.
Using an FTZ warehouse or yard can reduce tariff costs by allowing..
Posted by Carl Verdon on Sep 25, 2024 3:31:08 PM
The fear of cargo being lost, damaged, or otherwise compromised in transit is a common one. For shippers with international supply chains, these anxieties are intensified by unpredictable factors like war and..
Posted by Carl Verdon on Jul 18, 2022 10:00:00 AM
Importing freight into the U.S. from another country can feel intimidating — especially if you don’t have a lot of experience doing so. Getting cargo through customs efficiently is important; a delay at..
Posted by Jay Thomassen on Aug 9, 2021 10:00:00 AM
The world we live in is really quite large. And with seven continents, 195 countries and 835 inland and seaports currently active across the globe, moving freight internationally gets more complicated every..
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