Trendwatch: USTR 301 vessel fees determination – burden on ship operators; Trump: Truck tariffs coming Nov. 1; WTO downgrades global trade growth forecast to 0.5% for next year

USTR 301 vessel fees determination – burden on ship operators

Less than two weeks from the implementation of additional port fees for vessels owned, operated and built in China the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the agency designated for collection of the fees, has outlined key requirements via its Cargo Systems Messaging Service.

For the fees that also apply to all vehicle carriers built outside the US, CBP stated: “The burden for determining if a vessel owes the fee is on the operator, NOT CBP.”

Trump: Truck tariffs coming Nov. 1

President Donald Trump has changed the implementation date for tariffs on trucks.

On Monday, the president said he plans to install a 25% tariff on heavy- and medium-duty trucks, starting Nov. 1, per a Truth Social post.

Trump previously indicated that the levies would begin at the start of October, along with duties on furniture and branded pharmaceutical products.

WTO downgrades global trade growth forecast to 0.5% for next year

The World Trade Organization on Tuesday sharply lowered its 2026 forecast for global merchandise trade volume growth to 0.5%, citing expected delayed impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

It marks a significant revision down from its previous estimate in August of 1.8% growth.

Boeing, Airbus dismiss talk of imminent new jet designs

Executives from Boeing and Airbus dampened speculation of imminent decisions to replace their best-selling narrowbody models, telling a major audience of investors that it would take time to achieve the required jump in performance.

The Wall Street Journal reported last Monday that Boeing was in the early stages of developing a 737 successor. But marketing chief Darren Hulst told the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading that a launch is "some way off" while a senior Airbus executive said it would "take a bit of time" to achieve the efficiency gains needed to attract the market.

Slight rise in US air traffic controllers calling in sick seen since shutdown began

The number of air traffic controllers calling in sick since the government shutdown began has seen a slight "tick up", U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Monday, at times cutting air traffic staffing by 50% in some areas.

Duffy did not specify where the staffing issues were occurring, but some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must still turn up for work during the shutdown. They are not being paid and controllers are set to miss their first paycheck on Oct. 14.

Container market to face oversupply peak in 2027

Sea-Intelligence forecasts the container shipping market will shift into cyclical overcapacity, peaking in 2027 at levels last seen during the 2016 price wars.

In issue 734 of Sea-Intelligence Sunday Spotlight, Sea-Intelligence conducted an analysis of the future global supply and demand balance for the container shipping industry.

Avianca Cargo expands fleet with new A330P2F

Avianca Cargo has announced the addition of a new A330P2F freighter to its fleet, further expanding its cargo operations across the region.

This aircraft joined Avianca Cargo’s fleet, operated in synergy with Avianca Cargo México, bringing the total to nine A330 freighters (six A330F and three A330P2F). The newly added freighter has a capacity of more than 60 tonnes and, like the rest of the A330 family, it offers fuel efficiency, higher payload and volume capacity compared to other mid-sized freighters, and flexibility for medium-haul routes. These features allow Avianca Cargo to continue providing services tailored to customer needs while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Red Sea carriers wait and watch Gaza peace talks

Negotiators for Israel and Hamas were meeting in Egypt Monday to discuss a U.S. proposal for ending the war in Gaza, but there are no guarantees peace will bring the world’s largest ocean container lines back to the Red Sea-Suez Canal route anytime soon.

About 90% of an agreement has been completed, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday, with a phased drawdown and details regarding the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners still to be finalized.