Tariffs. AI. Sea Routes. Supply Chain's Great Reset.
Your bi-monthly brew of sharp supply chain news… best served with a caffeinated edge.
🚨 The Heat Is On: Tariffs Center Stage
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Tariffs became budget bombs. The White House’s pivot to IEEPA-based tariffs is shaking legal and trade frameworks, raising fresh questions for U.S. importers.
Here’s a breakdown of highlights that show how this shift expands presidential power, and what it means for your invoices.
➡️ IEEPA Tariffs: Key Questions Answered
And with the reciprocal tariff threat looming if trade talks falter, importers are already adjusting container strategies and rethinking landed cost models.
Meanwhile, an update shows EU–U.S. trade tensions are back in focus, with officials scrambling to revive stalled deals. Combined with a 50% EU tariff threat floated by Trump, cross-Atlantic buyers and sellers are on alert.
➡️ Transatlantic Tensions Rise
From Mid-Sized Firms to Home Renovations: From Sourcing to Warehousing
U.S. mid-sized firms are rethinking everything from sourcing to warehousing, as they absorb shockwaves from policy whiplash. A new PYMNTS report shows cost increases triggering structural overhauls.
➡️ Tariff Turbulence Drives Overhaul
And it’s not just businesses. Homeowners are feeling it too. Renovation costs are soaring, thanks to rising import prices on everything from tiles to timber. The pressure is mounting on budgets, timelines, and supply chain resilience.
🤖 AI Moratorium = Your Head Start
2025’s AI regulatory moratorium isn’t just political theater, it’s a rare window for freight and procurement leaders.
While legislation stalls, your team can leap ahead.
Our latest article shows how forward-thinkers are using this pause to fast-track AI tools in freight audits, POs, and AP automation, capturing value before rules kick in.
➡️ AI Moratorium: What It Means for Your Teams
🌊 Suez or No Suez? CMA CGM Bet
CMA CGM is the first major ocean carrier making a return to the Suez Canal route for its India–Mediterranean MEDEX service, after nearly 18 months of costly Red Sea detours.
Starting June 7, vessels like the CMA CGM Palleas and Nabucco will resume Suez transits, encouraged by a 15% discount from the Egyptian canal authority and reports of a possible ceasefire with Houthi militants.
But it’s not smooth sailing for all: Maersk and others are staying cautious, saying the risks remain too high to reverse course.So for now, CMA’s shift is bold but not yet the industry norm.
Bottlenecks Abroad = Trouble at Home
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Port congestion across Europe is offering a cautionary tale.
Analysts warn U.S. and Asian ports could see mirror disruptions if global shipping shifts accelerate post-tariff talks.
➡️ Shipping Bottlenecks in Europe
Executive Moves: Dole Doubles Down
Dole has tapped former Del Monte exec Todd Stillwell as its new VP of Supply Chain. The hire signals a strategic reset — likely focused on food traceability, digital maturity, and cost controls amid trade volatility.
☕ What’s Brewing at BlueCargo? ☕
📍 Meet Us in Chicago
Pedro Matias and Tyler Rieger are heading to Reuters Supply Chain USA 2025 on June 9–10.
If you're attending, this is your chance to grab a time with them and get a front-row look at how our AI-powered freight audit and supply chain solutions are saving real dollars across procurement and finance.
👉 Schedule Time with Pedro & Tyler
📊 Coming Soon: Accruals Made Easy
Finance teams, this one’s for you. We’re putting the final touches on our accruals intelligence engine designed to turn freight chaos into clarity. While we’re not revealing everything just yet, here’s a taste:
- 🧠 Automated freight accruals you can actually trust
- 💸 Predictive cash flow forecasts
- 📈 ERP-ready reports that your finance team will thank you for
More to come… but let’s just say your CFO is going to love this.
Last Sip: What This All Means
From tariffs to AI to Red Sea returns, global trade is in flux, but there’s opportunity in the chaos.
The smartest shippers are:
- Auditing both imports and exports
- Integrating AI before the moratorium lifts
- Watching tariff timelines like logistics hawks
Not sure where to start? Book a 15-minute call. We’ll help you map the risks and find savings you didn’t know existed.
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Tariffs News on our blog here.
