Plus: U.S. imports slow as tariffs bite, Mexico slaps 50% tariffs on Chinese goods, UP–NS defend their $85B merger amidst rival alliances, and more.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern say rival alliances prove their merger will strengthen competition, as CSX and CN tout new intermodal services linking Canada’s West Coast to Nashville.
Mexico plans tariffs of up to 50% on Chinese goods, reshaping North American trade flows as C.H. Robinson rolls out a new U.S.–Mexico consolidation service to cut costs.
Mexico plans tariffs of up to 50% on Chinese goods, reshaping North American trade flows as C.H. Robinson rolls out a new U.S.–Mexico consolidation service to cut costs.
Mexico is preparing to impose tariffs of up to 50% on imports from China and other countries without trade agreements, marking a sharp shift in its trade policy and opening a new front in the global tariff war. The move is aimed at protecting domestic industries but is already sending ripples through cross-border supply chains that feed U.S. markets.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico will raise its tariff on Chinese vehicles from 20% to 50% and extend similar measures to auto parts, steel, textiles, and other goods. The new duties, included in a draft bill covering more than 1,400 product categories, are designed to shield Mexican manufacturers from low-priced imports.
“We are going to take it higher, which the World Trade Organization allows us to do, which is up to 50%,” Ebrard said. “Why? Because the prices at which they are arriving in Mexico are below what we call reference prices. The main objective is to protect jobs.”
Mexico has emerged as the largest market for Chinese cars, displacing Russia, with imports rising nearly 25% in the first half of 2025. Ebrard argued these flows are distorting one of Mexico’s most critical industries.
President Claudia Sheinbaum defended the plan while seeking to ease tensions with Beijing. “We want to talk and discuss without creating any conflict,” she said in a September 11 news conference, adding that the tariffs are part of a national strategy rather than a bargaining chip in negotiations with the United States.
Her administration estimates less than 9% of imports would be affected, but Beijing has already pushed back, urging Mexico to “exercise the utmost caution and think twice” before hiking tariffs. A Chinese government statement accused Mexico of appeasing U.S. pressure, describing the plan as a response to Washington’s tariff “abuses.”
Sheinbaum said her government remains in contact with Chinese and South Korean embassies to explain the policy. The tariff list also applies to countries including South Korea, India, and Turkey, a move designed to limit potential transshipment of Chinese goods through third countries.
As policymakers debate tariffs, U.S. supply chain providers are adjusting operations in real time. C.H. Robinson this month launched a U.S.–Mexico freight consolidation service aimed at cutting cross-border shipping costs by up to 40%.
The service bundles less-than-truckload shipments from multiple suppliers in Mexico into single truckloads, reducing wasted space and streamlining customs clearance. “Say you’re a company that assembles vehicle seats in the U.S. and you’re importing parts from five different suppliers in Mexico. Today, those parts often come across on five separate trucks,” explained Jay Cornmesser, vice president for Mexico cross-border services. “With our new service, those shipments can move together on a single truck.”
The new program, powered by AI-driven routing and supported by a 400,000-square-foot Laredo facility, is designed to help shippers navigate mounting economic pressures and tariff uncertainty.
Mexico’s tariff plan shows how the country is walking a tightrope between defending its industries, maintaining open trade, and responding to U.S. protectionist pressures. For logistics providers and U.S. importers, the changing landscape highlights the growing importance of Mexico as both a manufacturing hub and a trade buffer in the tariff war with China.
Source: Transport Topics 1, 2 | FreightWaves
Peak season imports into the U.S. slowed sharply in 2025, with Chinese exports plunging 27% year-over-year and carriers cutting sailings as tariffs and inventory frontloading reshape trade flows.
Global shipping markets face a late-summer mix of tight space, tariff uncertainty, and inland transport pressures.
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed 16% in June to $60.2 billion, its lowest since 2023, as imports fell sharply following tariff-driven surges earlier this year.
DSV is pausing some border investments due to tariffs but advancing its 900,000-square-foot Laredo hub, as experts highlight Mexico and Latin America’s resilience in global trade growth.
Join over 12K+ subscribers to get the latest freight news and entertainment directly in your inbox for free. Subscribe & be sure to check your inbox to confirm (and your spam folder just in case).
