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☆ Fears are rising ocean freight rates may surpass $20,000 with no relief for global trade into 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Goetz Alebrand, head of ocean freight at DHL Global Forwarding Americas, said he is not optimistic freight rates will decline anytime soon. "It is unlikely that the situation will resolve itself soon and [ocean freight] rate levels might not ease up before Chinese New Year," Alebrand said. Air freight prices and demand are going higher According to freight intelligence firm Xeneta, China to North America air freight spot rates increased 43%, to $4.88 per kilogram, year-on-year in May. According to ocean freight data from FreightWaves SONAR, container bookings and freight orders from shippers to the ocean carriers are down 48% month-over-month. Xeneta data tracking ocean freight rates from the Far East to the U.S. East Coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast ports shows the historic run.

Persons: Joe Giddens, Paul Brashier, Brashier, Goetz Alebrand, Alebrand, Alan Murphy, Murphy, Peter Boockvar, Boockvar, We've, Nate Herman, Xeneta, Daniel Ives, Niall van de, van de, Good Hope Organizations: Federal Reserve, CNBC, ITS Logistics, DHL Global, Intelligence, Defense Intelligence, U.S ., Bleakley Financial, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Global, ", Apple, Wedbush Securities, Trade, Good Locations: Asia, Europe, Sea, Red, Africa, Shanghai, Rotterdam, Genoa, U.S . West Coast, East Coast, U.S, China, North America, U.S . East Coast , West Coast, Gulf Coast

☆ Latest shipping data reveals that mid-range retail is the new consumer price sweet spot
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Almost 80% of current freight orders received for peak season are for mid-range price items, the survey shows. Similar to last year, respondents expect less consumer appetite for luxury and aspirational luxury items imported. The world's second-largest ocean freight company, Maersk, recently told CNBC it expected a "normal" peak season. "There's nothing that indicates that it would be a slower peak season or a bigger peak season," said Charles Van der Steene, president of Maersk North America, in a recent interview with CNBC. "We believe in normalized peak season.

Persons: Eric Thayer, Robinson, Kuehne, Nagel, Noah Hoffman, Hoffman, hypersensitive, Charles Van der Steene, We've, John David Rainey, Rainey, Larry, Jon Gold, Nate Herman, Biden Organizations: US, Bureau, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Chain Survey, National Retail Federation, American Apparel and Footwear Association, United National Consumer Suppliers, ITS Logistics, DHL, Uber Technologies, C.H, Maersk, Walmart, Uber, International Longshoremen's Association, ILA, United States Maritime Alliance, Brands Locations: of Los Angeles, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Panama, Maersk North America, East Coast, Gulf, East, North America, West, Coast

☆ Battle for the Red Sea expands with U.S. strikes, EU stepping up its efforts against Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Defense officials tell CNBC as of February 21, there have been at least 59 attacks on commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea. But the EU said the Red Sea moves reflect the need for a stronger European presence in protecting ships from Houthi attacks. Trade leaders have urged more countries to join the military effort in the Red Sea. A war of misinformation in the Red Sea crisis also continues. On February 2 in Brussels, Borrell informed Yemeni Prime Minister Bin Mubarak about the plans to launch a new EU maritime operation in the Red Sea and about its mandate.

Persons: Mason, Torm Thor, Good Hope, Peter Stano, Josep Borrell, Mark Montgomery, Sen, John McCain, Steven Lamar, Hussein, Azzi, Stano, Houthis, Borrell, Bin Mubarak, Rashad Al, Carl Bentzel, Bentzel, Tesla Organizations: European Commission, United States Central Command, Command, U.S, CNBC, European Union's Naval Force, EU, French Navy, Prosperity, Prosperity Guardian, EU Commission, Navy, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Senate Armed, NATO, U.S . Central Command, UK, Prosperity Guardian . Trade, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Central Command, Yemeni, Presidential, Council, UN, Federal Maritime, Foreign Shipping, State Department, FMC, Walmart Locations: Aden, Iranian, Yemen, Red, Libyan Coast, Good, Somalia, European, EU, U.S, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Houthi, Europe, Suez, Belize, Brussels, Yemeni, United States, Egypt, Germany, Israel

☆ Trade leaders urge governments around the world to join Red Sea military effort
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Trade associations representing sectors across the global economy have joined an open letter urging more governments around the world to join Red Sea maritime security efforts. Currently, U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian is the primary military defense effort protecting merchant vessels that have come under attack from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The trade groups' letter comes at a time when the scrutiny of military efforts in the Red Sea is rising within countries that have taken a lead role, including the U.S. Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee, as well as House representatives, have recently questioned the Biden administration's unilateral authorization of Navy action in the Red Sea that can be on behalf of foreign-flagged vessels. Despite political pressure, the flow of global trade remains heavily reliant on the use of foreign vessels.

Organizations: CNBC, American Apparel and Footwear Association, National Retail Federation, Prosperity Guardian, U.S, Senators, Foreign Relations, Biden, MDS Transmodal Locations: Red, U.S, France

☆ Shein and Temu use a loophole to ship millions of packages to the US tax-free. Here's why the tax rule faces increased scrutiny.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The other bill, from Sen. Bill Cassidy and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, would ban de minimis shipments from China. The provision is more likely to change — a prospect that both Shein and Temu have said they support. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/InsiderShipping consultancy ShipMatrix estimates that Shein and Temu each ship more than a million packages to the US daily. It added that almost 50% of all de minimis shipments to the US come from China. Related stories"Changes to the exemption could create a paradigm shift for retailers like Temu and Shein," Bank of America analysts wrote in the note.

Persons: minimis, Earl Blumenauer, Russia —, Bill Cassidy, Sen, Tammy Baldwin, Cassidy, Baldwin, Jay Sole, It's, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, Shein's, Temu, Shein, Donald Tang, SHEIN, de minimis, they've, Steve Story, Sole, Satish Jindel, ShipMatrix, Jindel Organizations: Business, Customs, Rep, Bank of America, US Chamber of Commerce, Express, UBS, Pinduoduo Holdings, Goods, Shipping, Chinese Communist Party, China . Shipping, Wired, Shein, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Apex Logistics International, Walmart Locations: Xinjiang, China, Russia, Sen, Singapore, Boston, minimis, United States, mstone@insider.com

☆ Red Sea attacks already bigger issue for supply chain than pandemic, maritime advisory warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The strikes are a response to attacks on the Red Sea, adding complexity to the regional conflict originating from Israel's Gaza war. With that exception, "This [the Red Sea crisis] is the largest single event – even larger than the early pandemic impact," Murphy said. Sea-Intelligence analyzed current vessel delays compared to delays over the last several years in a report for clients. A leading ocean supply chain advisory firm is warning that the disruptions to shipping from the Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea are already more damaging to the supply chain impact than the early Covid-19 pandemic. "Threats to Red Sea shipping are a threat to maritime commerce worldwide," said Steve Lamar, CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association.

Persons: Luis Boza, Alan Murphy, Murphy, Hope, Steve Lamar Organizations: Getty, Intelligence, MSC, Volvo, Michelin, Ikea, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Logistics, CNBC Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, U.S, Yemen, Red, Gaza, Suez, Good Hope, Europe, United States, Asia

☆ Violent wage protests in Bangladesh could hit top fashion brands
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Tuesday, the country’s wage board announced an increase of $113 a month for garment workers, set to take effect December 1. Garment workers in Bangladesh currently make $95 a month producing clothes for big brands such as H&M, Zara and Levi’s. The American Apparel and Footwear Association, or AAFP, which represents brands in the US suggests a timelier minimum wage review. CNN reached out to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association which represents factory owners for comment but did not hear back. Cambodia now raises its minimum wage for garment workers once a year.

Persons: “, ”, Christina Hajagos, Clausen, Narza Akter, Imran Hossain, ” Matthew Miller, Bangladesh hasn’t, Fitch, Nate Herman, Levi Strauss, Elizabeth Cline, Jason Judd, Judd Organizations: New, New York CNN, Textile and Garment Industry, IndustriALL Global Union, Bangladesh Bureau, Statistics . Garment, Workers, US State Department, United, State Department, McKinsey, US Commerce Department, Puma, Abercrombie, American Apparel and Footwear Association, CNN, Brands, Government, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers, Policy, Columbia University, Consumer, World Bank, Consumers, Global Labor Institute, Cornell University, Workers Rights Consortium Locations: New York, Bangladesh, Zara, Levi’s, China, United States, Southeast Asia, AAFP, Swedish, ”, Patagonia, Cambodia

U.S. officials visiting South Africa this week to meet African trade ministers will face calls to reauthorise the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which expires in 2025. Apparel companies and industry insiders warn that Africa risks a once-in-a-generation shift away from Chinese manufacturing passing it by, with an estimated 240,000 to 290,000 jobs such as Nasimiyu's under threat. Apparel has been the standout success story of AGOA, which launched in 2000 to help develop African economies and foster democracy. African apparel exports under the programme reached nearly $1.4 billion last year, double the amount pre-AGOA. "We've been struck by how open the opportunity is now for us," South African Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel said last week.

Persons: Norah Nasimiyu, Thomas Mukoya, Pankaj Bedi, Norah Nasimiyu's, We've, Ebrahim Patel, Stephen Lamar, Michael Walsh, Constance Hamilton, Biden, Greg Poole, Bedi, Joe Bavier, Duncan Miriri, Alexander Smith Organizations: United Aryan, Processing, The U.S, REUTERS, U.S . Congress, AFRICA Industry, African Trade, United States Fashion Industry Association, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Congress, Research, U.S . International Trade Commission, GSP, UAL, Thomson Locations: Ruaraka district, Nairobi, Kenya, China, NAIROBI, U.S, South Africa, Africa, Philadelphia, Moscow, Beijing, Russia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Ethiopia, AGOA, gridlock, United States, Johannesburg

The International Labour Organization (ILO), of which Cambodia is a member, permits prison labour provided it is not forced. The companies, which Sopheak confirmed were W Dexing Garment (Cambodia), IGTM (Cambodia) and Chia Ho (Cambodia) Garment Industrial, did not respond to requests for comment. It said it learned in February that Cambodia was investigating and that the prison workshops had been suspended. Centric told Reuters in an email in June that it had "placed on hold" imports from a factory in Cambodia and would "immediately terminate" any supplier found to be using prison labour. CAMBODIA INVESTIGATESPrison labour at CC2 potentially puts Cambodia at odds with the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, which grants duty-free benefits to eligible developing nations.

Persons: Keo Chhea, Sopheak, Chia Ho, AAFA's, Ken Loo, Aun, Loo, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, amfori, Klot Dara, Stephen Lamar, Nate Herman, Clare Baldwin, Katherine Masters, Siddharth Cavale, John Shiffman, Kristina Cooke, David Crawshaw, Kay Johnson Organizations: Correctional, Google, REUTERS Acquire, Walmart, Centric Brands, Reuters, American Apparel and Footwear Association, International Labour Organization, ILO, Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, State, European Union, Japan, Garment, Human Rights, Textile, Apparel, Footwear, Travel Goods Association, IZOD, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, U.S, Travelway, Centric, Better Factories, BFC, amfori's Business, Authentic Brands, U.S . Trade, CC2, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, General Department of Prisons, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, PHNOM PENH, U.S, Washington, AAFA, IGTM, Canada, Better Factories Cambodia, CC2, CAMBODIA, Cambodia's U.S, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Focus: Key trade loophole keeps cheap Chinese products flowing to US
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Katherine Masters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that de minimis shipments into the U.S. rose to 685.5 million in 2022, up nearly 67% over 2018. That equals roughly two to three million packages a day, Robert Silvers, Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, told lawmakers in July. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers in June introduced bills that would ban de minimis shipments from China upon enactment. Rival U.S. retailers also have grown increasingly concerned about the exemption as Shein and Temu have gained market share. In 2015, Congress raised the cap on de minimis shipments to $800 from $200, making the U.S. threshold one of the highest in the world.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Shein, Peter Pernot, Robert Silvers, minimis, Jason Smith, Temu, Steve Story, They're, Erik Autor, Katherine Masters, Anna Driver Organizations: REUTERS, PDD Holdings, U.S, Reuters, American Apparel and Footwear Association, de, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, Republican, Columbia, Apex Logistics International, UPS, FedEx, Barlow & Company, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Beijing, Mexico, Canada

☆ Dock workers at key Canadian ports reject labor deal, creating further trade uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesOverseas trade entering North America through key ports on Canada's West Coast faces more uncertainty after dock workers rejected a tentative labor deal late Friday. Canadian Minister of Labor Seamus O'Reagan, in a Twitter post Saturday, said ports in British Columbia need stability after the 14 days of strikes. "The vessel was delayed by several weeks and now the rail-bound containers sit at the Ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert." For the third week in a row, rail traffic from Canada into the U.S. is down following the on-again, off-again western Canadian ports strike. The first two weeks of the labor strike prevented over 80% of rail trade from entering the United States.

Persons: Rob Ashton, BCMEA, ILWU, Labor Seamus O'Reagan, O'Reagan, Paul Brashier, Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Steve Lamar, AAFA Organizations: Global, Bloomberg, Getty Images Overseas, Warehouse Union of Canada, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Labor, . Trade, U.S ., ITS Logistics, American Apparel and Footwear Association Locations: Vancouver Harbour, Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, North America, Coast, British, ILWU Canada, British Columbia, U.S . West Coast, Vancouver, U.S, United States

☆ Canadian port workers back on strike after voting down government-brokered deal, returning supply chain to 'turmoil'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Photographer: Ben Nelms/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesThe supply chain is in turmoil again with International Longshore & Warehouse Union West Coast Canada members walking off the job after a key union caucus voted down a tentative deal that had temporarily ended the West Coast ports strike last week. Rob Ashton, president of the ILWU Canada, said in a statement that it did not believe the recommendations had the ability to protect union jobs. His group estimated that the first strike would cause an average 6-8 weeks of supply chain disruption before conditions would return to normal. The National Association of Chemical Distributors told CNBC some chemical companies are expected supply chain congestion until October as a result of the strike. Critical chemicals that go into food, cleaning, water purification, and personal care, among many others, flow through the West Coast ports of Canada and down to the United States.

Persons: Prince Rupert, of Prince Rupert in Prince, Trudeau, He's, Kinder Morgan, Ben Nelms, Rob Ashton, Seamus O'Reagan, " O'Regan, Steve Lamar, Lamar, Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Destine Ozuygur, Ozuygur, Eric Byer, Byer, HLS, Captain Adil Ashiq, Ashiq, Paul Brashier, BCMEA Organizations: Prince Rupert Grain Ltd, Canadian, Enbridge Inc, Kinder, Kinder Morgan Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, Warehouse Union, Coast Canada, British Columbia Maritime Employee Association, Canada's Labor, Canada's Transport, Canada Industrial Relations Board, Logistics, CNBC, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Railway Association of Canada, U.S, Port, HLS Shipping, Association of American Railroads, National Association of Chemical Distributors, Canadian National Railroad, Government, ., U.S ., ITS Logistics Locations: of, of Prince Rupert in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, Petroliam Nasional, West, British, Vancouver, U.S, Port of Vancouver, eeSea, United States, . West Coast, East Coast, China, U.S . West Coast, U.S . East Coast, North America, East, Asia

☆ Rail trade from Canada plummets due to West Coast ports strike, down nearly 50%
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Year-over-year intermodal Canadian rail was down 46.2% last week as a result of the strike. Weekly rail trade data from the Association of American Railroads shows the devastating impact that Canadian West Coast ports strike is having on freight rail cargo entering the U.S. The U.S. and Canada have a historically strong trade relationship: Each country is the other's top trading partner. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates $605 million in trade moves through one of those two ports daily. The International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union of Canada begin its strike on July 1.

Persons: Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Paul Brashier, Prince Rupert, Brashier, Eric Byer, Byer, Willie Adams, Sara Elena, Medea, Rob Ashton, Steve Lamar Organizations: AAR, Association of American Railroads, Railway Association of Canada, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Warehouse Union of Canada, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, ITS Logistics, ITS, U.S ., National Association of Chemical Distributors, Products, CNBC, Hyundai, CMA, Canadian Labor, Labor, Bank of Canada, American Apparel and Footwear Association Locations: West Coast, U.S, Canada, Vancouver, British, United States, U.S . West Coast, East Coast, Western Canada, Asia, Chicago, San Francisco

☆ U.S. apparel trade group calls to recall Canadian Parliament as ports strike enters 10th day
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A picket line at the Neptune Terminal at the Port of Vancouver during a dockworkers strike in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. As a workers' strike at West Coast Canadian ports enters its 10th day, trade associations both in the United States and Canada are warning the impact will inflate prices and cause weeks of delays in product arrivals. Approximately $572 million in container trade arrives daily to the U.S. from Canada, according to a breakout of U.S. Census data. From January 2022 to May 2023, total monthly U.S. goods imports from Canada ranged from $31 billion to nearly $41 billion. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates $605 million in trade moves through one of those two ports daily.

Persons: Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Steve Lamar, Lamar, Bruce Rodgers, Seamus O'Regan Organizations: Port, West Coast, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, American Apparel and Footwear Association, CNBC, Warehouse Union, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association, Logistics Locations: Port of Vancouver, Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, United States, U.S, Vancouver, British Columbia, British

☆ Containerships diverted from Vancouver amid port strikes, headed for Seattle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Two containerships originally bound for the Port of Vancouver are changing course and have been diverted to the Port of Seattle, according to VesselsValue tracking data, as labor strikes at West Coast ports in Canada stretch into their sixth day. The distance between the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Seattle is a little over a half-day's trip traveling at typical speeds. New data from MarineTraffic shows 15 containerships bound for Vancouver and 9 containerships bound for Prince Rupert. They were scheduled to arrive at the Port of Vancouver on July 3 and were then destined by rail for Memphis. The ocean carriers are the final arbiter in any container destination change.

Persons: Sara Elena, It's, Prince Rupert, Port of Prince Rupert, Paul Brashier, Brashier Organizations: Port, CNBC, Tacoma . ITS Logistics, ITS Logistics, American Apparel and Footwear Association, National Retail Federation, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Warehouse Union Locations: Vancouver, Port of Seattle, West Coast, Canada, San Francisco, Port of Vancouver, Seattle, Port, Port of, Asia, Tacoma, Memphis, United States, British

A union representing port workers in Western Canada officially began striking, an action that could have ripple effects reaching beyond the U.S.'s northern neighbor. The International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada's Longshore Division announced its labor strike began in a Saturday Facebook post signed by union president Rob Ashton. More than 99% of members of the union, who support West Coast ports such as Vancouver and Prince Rupert, voted to approve the strike last month. In an email to CNBC, BNSF said it had no comment on a strike impact. In a CPKC customer advisory issued Wednesday, the railway said: "The work stoppage related to this notice could impact port operations in British Columbia.

Persons: Rob Ashton, Prince Rupert, Ashton, Seamus O'Regan Jr, Port of Prince Rupert, Paul Brashire, of Prince Rupert, Berkshire Hathaway, CPKC, Steve Lamar Organizations: Warehouse, Longshore Division, Facebook, Canada Longshore, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Canadian, U.S, CNBC, Tacoma ., Longshoremen's Association, Warehouse Union, ITS Logistics, Port, BNSF, American Apparel and Footwear Association Locations: Western Canada, West Coast, Vancouver, British, Canada, Port, Port of, Asia, Seattle, Tacoma, U.S, Chicago, Detroit, of, Canadian Pacific, Berkshire, British Columbia

☆ Inflation's inventory gluts are here to stay and will hit the bottom line in weaker economy: CNBC Supply Chain Survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But uncertainty about inventory management is significant, with almost one-quarter (23%) of supply chain managers saying they are not sure when gluts will be worked off. The supply chain pressures will be among the factors that weigh on quarterly numbers. Manufacturing orders and the economic outlook Recent data on manufacturing has shown a deterioration in the economy, with the ISM Manufacturing index in contraction level based on March data released this week. "This survey confirms that we remain in an era of serious supply chain cost-to-serve challenges," Baxa said. FreightWaves and ITS Logistics are CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map data providers.

☆ Some supply chain managers are wary of shifting trade back to West Coast ports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mario Tama | Getty ImagesNearly a third of logistics managers at major companies and trade groups say they do not know how much trade they would return to the West Coast once an International Longshore and Warehouse Union, or ILWU, labor deal is reached, according to CNBC's supply chain survey. Of those surveyed, 49% said they did not divert trade, compared to 40% who said they did. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwardsOver half of those respondents told CNBC the main reason for moving trade away from the West Coast was the threat of an ILWU strike. About 40% cited both California's AB5 "gig worker" law, which concerns the employment status of drivers, and rail delays. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwardsNegotiations between the ILWU and their employer, the Pacific Maritime Association, have been ongoing since May 10.

☆ Most supply chain managers expect problems to continue at least through 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The dour outlook comes after almost three years of global supply chain problems, which began with the shutdown of Wuhan, China, where the Covid outbreak began. Jon Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy of the NRF, said the administration has taken steps to address the supply chain challenges. Earlier this year, for example, the administration rolled out a pilot supply chain data sharing program called Freight Logistics Optimization Works, or FLOW. "The administration needs to remain focused and continue to convene the right supply chain stakeholders to discuss ways to improve supply chain operations and expand data sharing to create a truly 21st century supply chain," Gold said. Nate Herman, AAFA's senior vice president, of policy told CNBC the problems that created the supply chain crisis are far from over.

The White House struck a tentative deal Thursday to avoid a rail strike that risked major disruptions across the United States, with freight workers securing a key demand. Pandemic pressures, including those that scrambled supply chains, worked in freight workers’ favor, logistics experts said. A rail strike would dent many industries, as about 40% of goods that are shipped long-distance rely on the nation’s rail system. Rail workers often are on-call 24/7 year-round and are allotted time off only after being called to a number of consecutive on-call shifts. A labor union source told NBC News that getting rail carriers to negotiate on attendance policies was a major breakthrough.

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