Firehose Week: Tariffs, “China’s USTR,” MEPC Carbon Tax—and Why Rates Are Still Calm

Tariff whiplash, “China’s USTR,” and a carbon levy vote—yet spot rates look oddly calm. Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen cut through the chaos: Trump’s 100% tariff warning vs. the Nov 10 tariff snap-back, China’s mirror policy (including the 25% ownership twist), and last-minute U.S. duties on ship-to-shore cranes (with 150% proposed on terminal gear). 

We also unpack why Trans-Pac spot rates paid are at ~12-month lows despite $3k GRI filings, and what CTS load-date demand says about where volumes are really headed.

What you’ll learn:

• How (and whether) to front-load, and what carriers’ GRI filings signal vs. what’s likely to stick
• The operational ripple effects of China’s mirror rules—beyond US–China lanes
• MEPC carbon levy timing (2027 processes, 2028 payments), plus U.S. retaliation talk and practical impact
• Playbook: procurement timing for port equipment, contract/GRI strategy, and communicating risk to your CFO

Actionable guidance in under 30 minutes—so you can protect margins before the next headline hits.