Two U.S. senators, a Democrat and a Republican, urged the Commerce Department on Thursday to launch a national security investigation into the import of heavy construction and farm equipment made in Mexico by companies such as Deere & Co, Caterpillar, and CNH Industrial. The push by Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, and Senator Bernie … Read More

The European Parliament signed off on major provisions of the trade deal that the United States and the bloc struck last year at President Trump’s golf course in Turnberry, Scotland. The decision came after months of wrangling, and despite big concerns on the part of many European lawmakers that the United States was no longer … Read More

The U.S. has lived with a massive trade deficit for decades. But under President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, that gap suddenly narrowed — and much faster than many expected. That became clear on CNBC when anchor Rick Santelli reacted in real time to the trade numbers. “On the trade balance, which we know is going … Read More

Shifting global trade patterns and cost pressures are reshaping industrial real estate demand across North America, with logistics users increasingly moving large-scale distribution activity away from coastal port markets and toward lower-cost inland logistics hubs. This is according to a new report from Cushman & Wakefield, “North America Ports & Trade Update: 2025 in Review.” … Read More

Rising costs in coastal logistics markets are contributing to the shift. Industrial rents in port markets climbed 65% between 2019 and 2023 and remain 33% higher than the national average, encouraging many occupiers—particularly those requiring facilities larger than 500,000 square feet—to pursue more cost-effective inland locations. Read the article.

Support for a proposal to reduce the excise tax on American-made beer but not on foreign-made beer provides an interesting juxtaposition on the tariff debate. One of the main arguments against the United States imposing tariffs is that other countries retaliate with their own tariffs, which impacts exports of American-made goods. One could argue that … Read More

Colombia raised steel import tariffs to 35% on products from China, Russia, Turkey and India to protect its domestic industry, which represents 10% of industrial GDP and supports 45,000 jobs plus 25,000 suppliers. The one-year measure mirrors Mexico’s permanent tariff extension on Asian steel imports, as both countries respond to regional oversupply concerns with Asian … Read More

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has determined that there is a reasonable indication that the U.S. strawberry industry is materially injured by imports of fresh winter strawberries from Mexico that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value. The outcomes of the investigation could lead to import … Read More

If the Trump administration’s tariff policy has proved anything, it’s that corporate America can afford to pay higher tax rates without the disruptions that Republican devotees of supply-side economics always say are inevitable. The duties — paid by importers and either absorbed by them or passed on to customers — brought the US Treasury around … Read More

The U.S. ag trade deficit continues to move in the right direction, according to new numbers from USDA. While the overall number is still massive, the latest forecast predicts 2026’s deficit to fall to $29 billion. That’s $8 billion less than USDA’s projections from December, and $14.7 billion lower than last year. It’s welcome news … Read More