As the UK nears its latest deadline for departing the EU, what will happen next remains unclear. Descartes Datamyne international data – including our new UK database – keeps Brexit’s ongoing effects on global trade in sharp focus. “Entrenched uncertainty” – that’s...
The Broad-Gauge Impact of Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum
Starting in March of 2018, the Trump Administration has deployed tariffs and import quotas on select steel and aluminum products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which authorizes these measures to control imports in the cause of national security....
Car Alarm: U.S. Auto Exports & The Impact of Shifting Trade Policy
A return to the 25% duty rate on U.S. automotive exports to China is set to enter into effect on December 15th, and U.S. auto-makers are worried about the effects. Overseas sales of U.S.-made cars have yet to recover after last year’s tariff cut shipments to China by...
The Top U.S. Trade Partner is Now Mexico
Mexico, steadily rising in rank to No. 12 among exporting nations, has eclipsed China and Canada to become the U.S.’s leading trade partner. Mexico is now the top U.S. trade partner, ranked by total value of import and export trade, according to Descartes...
Easter Sunday: A Record High First Quarter Chocolate & Candy Imports
Despite some of the most popular confections being produced in the United States, the imports of chocolates and candy still represent nearly $9 billion in value annually. For confection imports as well as the raw materials to produce them (HS 17 and 18), the first...
U.S. to End GSP Eligibility for India and Turkey
The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced an end to Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility for India and Turkey after finding the countries no longer meet the conditions for getting duty-free access to U.S. markets as developing...
Hot Pursuit: Competition for EV Battery Metals Revs Up
A global scramble is on to secure supplies of EV battery metals – the cobalt, graphite and lithium – that go into the batteries that make electric vehicles go. The global market’s growing embrace of electric vehicles is driving demand, and sparking volatility...
U.S. Electronics Imports and Exports: Market Trends and Analysis
As the impact of shifting trade policy on the electronics sector remains to be fully seen, Descartes Datamyne has released it’s quarterly commodity report that contains detailed import and export data that shows the early effect of tariff changes. In the first half of...
U.S. and Canada’s Ongoing Lumber Dispute
Since 1982, the softwood lumber market has been a hot topic between the United States and Canada. Both countries are heavy producers with the United States producing an average of 2.9 billion board ft. (bbf) per month and Canadian sawmill’s producing 2.37 bbf/month....
Avocados Top Bananas In U.S. Fruit Imports
Ranked by value of trade, avocados moved up to No. 1 among U.S. fruit imports in 2017 and are holding a lead over bananas, formerly the most valuable fruit import, so far in 2018. Long the top among U.S. fruit imports, bananas have ceded the lead to avocados. Based on...