Supply Chain Research

Supply Chain Edge: Outlooks adrift, auto tariffs, congestion in Europe

March 28, 2025

– The early months of the US Trump administration have disrupted global supply chains through investigations and initial tariffs, although frequent changes and unfulfilled threats are contributing to uncertainty.
– Muted industrial activity and rising trade protectionism are expected to ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: 25 supply chain issues for 2025

December 20, 2024

– In new research this week, we identify 25 issues for supply chain decision-makers to consider in 2025, ranging from the evolution of trade rivalries (and friendships), the progress toward balance in logistics networks, the development of sustainable supply chains, the delivery of the energy ... Read more →

Supply Chain Edge: Tariffs in many forms, chip and mineral controls, long list of global sourcing headwinds

December 6, 2024

– US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada may lead to an early renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with the US trade deficit with these countries rising to US$165.4 billion. The potential for retaliatory tariffs from ... Read more →

Avocados avoid logistical mush

March 1, 2022

Fans of guacamole, avocado toast, and cinco de mayo narrowly missed experiencing supply chain issues firsthand as the U.S. temporarily banned imports of avocadoes from Mexico. The restriction was spurred by death threats made to an on-site U.S. Agriculture inspector who among other things chec... Read more →

Yarn, wind power face new duties; olives poised to wrinkle US-EU relationship

November 30, 2021

The U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a variety of rulings in November, with polyester yarn, wind towers, and solar panels all receiving some form of additional tariff burden. The polyester yarn ruling targeted subject imports from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam that w... Read more →

Ford, GM see impact of chip shortage

November 9, 2021

Automakers reporting Q3 results over the past few weeks have had a common theme in talking about the chip shortage and the impact on business. Ford CFO John Lawler noted the challenges facing the industry saying they saw “lower-than-anticipated improvement in chip availability in the second ha... Read more →

Ford, Volkswagen could shift if EV credits charge up

October 26, 2021

Canada and Mexico have issued warnings that potential tax credits for electric vehicle (EV) assembly in the U.S. may run afoul of USMCA. The USMCA sets out rules-of-origin requirements for cars to receive tariff reductions, and Canada and Mexico feel that the credits would undermine the commit... Read more →

GM squeaks by pre-pandemic levels, Mexico disputes RoO requirements

August 24, 2021

Mexico has launched a formal dispute under USMCA for proposed rule of origin (RoO) requirements that were stricter than originally thought. This may be a more fundamental dispute than the labor issue that was recently resolved through the process. The root of the concerns may be Mexican export... Read more →

Thyssenkrupp, SSAB scale up steel shipments; long wait for tariff leniency ahead

August 8, 2021

The U.S. and EU are continuing their negotiations to resolve the future of U.S. Section 232 steel and aluminum duties, with a commitment to completing discussions by Nov. 1. Other Section 232 tariffs have recently been abandoned, while plans on both sides for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism... Read more →

USMCA Watch: General Motors labor issue resolved, signs supply chain normalizing

July 12, 2021

The governments of the U.S. and Mexico have settled a U.S. complaint under USMCA rules regarding restrictions on collective bargaining at a General Motors’ Silao factory in Guanajuato, Mexico. The use of the “Rapid Response Labor Mechanism” is less cumbersome than a full dispute and may be a m... Read more →

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