Trendwatch: Manufacturers look for certainty following Supreme Court’s tariff decision; ‘A deal is a deal’: EU halts US pact over Trump’s new global tariff; EU extends Red Sea naval mission to 2027

Manufacturers look for certainty following Supreme Court’s tariff decision

Manufacturers are searching for economic certainty and stability following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, which upended the Trump administration’s authority to use emergency economic powers to enact tariffs worldwide.

The court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping use of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in a 6-3 decision. The ruling, however, has no effect on tariffs enacted under Section 232 and other authorities available to the president.

‘A deal is a deal’: EU halts US pact over Trump’s new global tariff

The European Union is putting its framework trade deal with the United States on hold as it assesses the fallout of a Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Following Friday’s ruling by the high court wiping out tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Trump signed an executive order imposing a fresh 10% global tariff. He later said he would raise that duty to 15%, but no official documentation of the hike has been published as of Monday morning. 

EU extends Red Sea naval mission to 2027

The European Union is keeping its warships in the Red Sea.

EU member states have agreed to extend EUNAVFOR ASPIDES through February 28, 2027, allocating nearly €15 million to continue protecting commercial shipping in a corridor that remains anything but stable.

The decision follows a strategic review of the operation, which was launched in February 2024 after Iranian-backed Houthi forces began targeting merchant vessels in late 2023. The mission provides defensive escorts and maritime security coverage around the Bab al-Mandab Strait while monitoring key waterways stretching from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea and Strait of Hormuz.

Zim's union makes push to block Hapag-Lloyd's buyout offer

As the architects of the Hapag-Lloyd-Zim merger make their case to the Israeli government, Zim's union is making every effort to bring the deal to a halt, even blocking the company's chairman from entering the firm's facilities. 

According to Israeli outlet Calcalist, Zim union employees picketed outside of the firm's sites in Ashdod, Holon and Haifa, and the union's leadership stated that chairman Yair Seroussi would be prevented from entering. Seroussi spearheaded negotiations on the sale of the firm to Hapag-Lloyd, along with Hapag representative Samer Haj-Yehia.

LATAM ranks among the world’s most sustainable airlines for the second consecutive year, according to S&P Global

For the second consecutive year, LATAM Airlines Group ranked among the airlines with the strongest sustainability performance worldwide, being recognized by S&P Global as a Top Sustainability Performer in the 2025 Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), placing fifth globally and first in the Americas, according to the evaluation published on February 18, 2026.

In this edition, LATAM achieved a score of 77 in environmental, social, and governance performance, marking a historic increase of 10 points compared to the previous year, out of a maximum of 100, representing a 15% improvement. As a result, the Group was recognized as Industry Mover 2025, a distinction granted by S&P Global to the company with the greatest improvement within its industry.

Port of Rotterdam sets integrated climate transition plan

In a new climate transition plan, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is publishing its integrated approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This new plan not only concerns the emissions of the Port of Rotterdam itself, such as those from its own vessels, the energy it purchases and the travel movements of its employees, but it also relates to emissions from companies located in the port area and shipping within the Harbour Master’s management area.

Maersk and MSC handed temporary running of Hutchison’s Panamanian terminals

Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) have moved in to run key terminals at the entrances to the Panama Canal after Panama published a Supreme Court ruling annulling long‑running concessions held by CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company (PPC), clearing the way for an immediate handover and an 18‑month transition.

ILO urges recognition of seafarers as keyworkers on MLC anniversary

On the 20-year anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)  have recognised the profound impact the convention has had on shipping and reaffirm their commitment to its principles and the protections it embodies.

CMA CGM renews ULD agreement with Jettainer

The French airline has agreed on a long-term extension of its partnership with the Germany-based ULD solutions company, a subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks for CMA CGM AIR CARGO’s trust in our services“, said Jan Wilhelm Breithaupt, chief executive of Jettainer.

The company now has more than 100,000 ULDs in 500 locations worldwide.