Trendwatch: US slaps 50% tariffs on many Canada imports; Oil tankers turn back in Red Sea after Houthi attack threat; Alexandria Port records 82 million tonnes of cargo throughput

US slaps 50% tariffs on many Canada imports 

President Donald Trump on Monday issued several proclamations to impose an additional 50% tariff, starting Aug. 19, on many key imports from Canada, regardless of whether the goods originated through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. 

The tariffs apply to a wide variety of products, ranging from raw agricultural and natural materials to chemicals, textiles, consumer goods, wood products, paper, machinery and tools, per annexes provided with each proclamation and reviewed by Supply Chain Dive. 

The duties apply to all covered goods, regardless of whether they originate under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, per a fact sheet released by the White House. However, the tariffs will not apply to energy, potash, products subject to Section 232 tariffs, and certain other goods, such as fish and critical minerals. 

Oil tankers turn back in Red Sea after Houthi attack threat 

Three oil tankers have made U-turns in the southern Red Sea after warnings from Houthi rebels in Yemen that they would target ships heading to or from Saudi ports. 

One of those vessels, the very large crude carrier Xin Long Yang, left the port of Yanbu on July 20, hauling about 2 million barrels of Saudi crude to China. It came to a halt before reaching the Yemeni border on the morning of July 21, and was last seen heading north, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. 

The diversions underline how threats by Houthi rebels risk curbing Saudi oil exports from the Red Sea hub that has become a crucial workaround since the Iran war severely disrupted shipping out of Persian Gulf ports. 

US announces trade deal with Jordan 

The United States on Tuesday announced a trade deal with Jordan that the White House said would remove barriers for U.S. exporters and provide new access for critical U.S. industries. 

As part of the deal, Jordan will remove non-tariff trade barriers and expand market access for U.S. goods, including agricultural products and motor vehicles, the White House said in a statement.

Alexandria Port records 82 million tonnes of cargo throughput in FY2025/26 

Alexandria Port has recorded its highest-ever cargo-handling volumes during fiscal year (FY) 2025/26, with total cargo throughput exceeding 82 million tonnes, reflecting continued improvements in port infrastructure, operational efficiency and logistics services, according to Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir. 

The minister said cargo volumes rose by 10% to 74.8 million tonnes in FY2024/25, marking the port’s strongest annual performance on record. Dry bulk cargo recorded the fastest growth across all cargo categories, up 19.3% year on year to 36.5 million tonnes, compared with 30.6 million tonnes in the previous fiscal year. 

Containerized cargo also posted robust growth, rising 11% to approximately 28.3 million tonnes from 25.5 million tonnes, while liquid bulk cargo reached 10.3 million tonnes, up 1%.

Heightened Chinese Coast Guard patrols in Taiwan Strait may impact East Asia shipping

There is a risk of heightened Chinese Coast Guard patrols off the Eastern Taiwanese coast in the Taiwan Strait that could impact shipping and trigger a national security threat to nations in East Asia, according to the Taiwan Strait Risk Report (TSRR) dated July 16, 2026.

The TSRR contains the following warning: “Taiwan Strait Risk Report will be raising its Taiwan Strait risk ratings virtually across the board. This reflects our assessment that China’s recent decision to routinize its coast guard patrols off the eastern Taiwanese coast will likely pave the way for a series of initiatives aimed at seriously limiting Taiwan’s access to the free flow of goods from crucial foreign suppliers – perhaps not immediately, but probably over the next 3-4 months.”

Trump maps out 200% tariffs for generic pharmaceuticals

President Donald Trump plans to hike tariffs on generic pharmaceuticals to 200% in the coming years, according to a Tuesday Truth Social post, adding to a growing list of tariff decisions from the White House in recent weeks.

Trump said the timeline would begin Aug. 1, with generic drugs continuing to face a 0% tariff for the next two years. From there, the levy would increase to 100% for a year before rising to 200%.