U.S. West Coast ports, specifically Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals, continue to experience heavy congestion due to the unprecedented volumes arriving in the U.S. in anticipation of the upcoming Lunar New Year and the pending tariff changes. Containers are sitting longer than normal, and once the containers are out-gated, many are staying out longer than normal. These delays are contributing to chassis shortages in the area.
Key contributing factors:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising that after March 22, 2019, all regulated composite wood products (i.e., panels) created from binding strands, particles, fibers, veneers, or boards of wood together with adhesives (i.e., glues), including hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard (includes thin-MDF), and particleboard must be certified and labeled as compliant with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Title VI. All labels must include the panel producer’s name, lot number, and an EPA-recognized TSCA Title VI third-party certification (TPC) number. All importers will be responsible for providing a positive TSCA Import Certification for all applicable shipments, which will be transmitted to CBP via the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Upon request by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), importers must make available within thirty (30) calendar days certain records that document compliance with this rule. Recordkeeping requirements apply.
Source: National Retail Federation
Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports have slowed down after a months-long rush to beat increased tariffs on goods from China, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
“With the holiday season behind us, the immediate pressure to stock up on merchandise has passed but retailers remain concerned about tariffs and their impact on the nation’s economy,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Retailers have also brought in much of their spring merchandise early to protect consumers against higher prices that will eventually come with tariffs. Our industry is hoping the talks currently under way will bring an end to this ill-advised trade war and result in a more appropriate way of responding to China’s trade abuses that won’t force American consumers, workers and businesses to pay the price.”
Source: Institute for Supply Management – January 3, 2019
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December, and the overall economy grew for the 116th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® .
