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

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

Japan plans a new certification pathway for US-built vehicles. It will admit US-certified cars without extra testing in Japan. Toyota has said it wants to import three US models into Japan. Last fall, President Trump announced Japan was working to allow American-made vehicles into the country and to accept US safety certifications without additional testing. … Read More

But who is, in fact, paying the Trump tariffs? Two reports released last week — the Congressional Budget Office’s latest report on the budget and economic outlook, and a study released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York — both concluded that the tariffs are overwhelmingly being borne by U.S. households and firms. But … Read More

Bangladesh has pledged to buy American aircraft from Boeing, along with greater quantities of cotton, soybeans, liquefied petroleum gas and other goods to reduce the trade gap with the US. An agreement has been signed to import 3.5 million tonnes of wheat from America over five years, with approximately 660,000 tonnes already purchased. The arrangement … Read More