Tariff Shock and Post-CNY Signals: What It Means for Rates and Contracts

This week’s Supply Chain Secrets focuses squarely on tariff volatility and what it means for global trade.

The Supreme Court overturns IEEPA tariffs. A new blanket tariff is introduced days later. Hundreds of commodity-level exemptions are published. Refund pathways remain unclear. The trade environment shifted dramatically within 72 hours.

Lars walks through what is actually in effect, what remains in place under Sections 301 and 232, and why the current policy landscape makes forward planning extraordinarily difficult.

Beyond tariffs, we cover:

• Post Chinese New Year rate declines across the Pacific and Asia-Europe
• Why Pacific spreads are tightening and what that signals about market certainty
• Reliability reaching a six-year high
• CMA-CGM’s apparent new Japan-to-North Europe service
• What this means for TPM contract negotiations

If you are managing exposure, negotiating contracts, or trying to interpret conflicting market signals, this episode provides structured clarity in a chaotic week.