Executive Commentary |
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CLECAT( European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services)
Nicolette van der Jagt
Director General www. clecat. org
The latest expansion of US tariffs is not occurring in isolation but marks another step away from the long era of trade liberalization and multilateralism during which global supply chains were optimized for efficiency and predictability. Trade policy is increasingly shaped by industrial strategy, security considerations and geopolitics. Europe experiences these shifts with intensity. As one of the world’ s most open and
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interconnected economies, with the EU involved in around 60 % of global trade flows, predictable access to markets, inputs and technologies is fundamental to its competitiveness. European supply chains have been hit by successive shocks, from financial instability and COVID-19 to Russia’ s invasion of Ukraine and volatile energy prices. Combined with structural pressures such as demographic ageing, labor shortages, rising compliance obligations and the capital needs of the green and digital transitions, the operating environment has become far more uncertain than in previous decades.
In response, European industry is diversifying quickly. Production is shifting closer to end-markets, with increased investment in Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey, North Africa, and selectively Southeast Asia. Policymakers are accelerating bilateral trade agreements to secure diversified
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“ Trade policy is increasingly shaped by industrial strategy, security considerations and geopolitics.”
Nicolette van der Jagt
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market access. For freight forwarders, these dynamics significantly expand our role. Tariffs add complexity due to altering routing choices, capacity planning, and commercial structures across transatlantic and Asia – Europe corridors. Companies face shifting preferential regimes, redefined rules of origin and fluctuating transport flows, all of which raise costs and lead to supply-chain decisions based on political shocks rather than economic logic. The question is whether in the coming years the US leadership is prepared to reconsider a strategy that has not delivered the intended domestic gains yet has imposed clear economic costs on American consumers, exporters and manufacturing supply chains. If the shared objective is longterm economic strength across the Atlantic, then it is time to steer away from tariff escalation and re-engage in a more constructive, mutually beneficial trade agenda. |
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Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association
Bruce Rodgers
Executive Director www. ciffa. com
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From a Canadian perspective, clarity and decisive action from the US government are essential to ensuring predictability, competitiveness and continued cross-border economic cooperation. Because Canada’ s economy is deeply integrated with that of the US, policy ambiguity in Washington can quickly disrupt investment and supply chain decisions.
Regulatory predictability is a top priority. Canadian businesses require stable, transparent guidance on US industrial and trade policies. Frequent or inconsistent rule changes at federal and state levels create uncertainty for exporters, complicating longterm planning.
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Digital and data governance is another pressing concern. Canadian firms look for clearer US direction on privacy regulation, cybersecurity requirements, AI governance and cross-border data flows. Unpredictable state rules complicate compliance for small and misize Canadian enterprises reliant on the US market.
Additionally, efficient border management remains essential for trade fluidity. Clearer guidance on border staffing, pre-clearance expansion and joint emergency protocols would help minimize delays and maintain supply chain resilience.
Finally, Canadian industry needs assurance that the US will continue treating Canada as a trusted partner, rather than imposing restrictions designed for non-allied nations. Such reassurance is vital for sustaining confidence in bilateral economic cooperation and fostering a predictable, competitive North American economic environment.
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“ Whilst the dollar remains important, it may no longer be the unquestioned global anchor.”
Anil Vitarana
“ Canadian industry needs assurance that the US will continue treating Canada as a trusted partner, rather than imposing restrictions designed for non-allied nations.”
Bruce Rodgers
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Cranford Consulting
Anil Vitarana
Founder and Principal www. cranford. co. ke
The Bretton Woods Agreement, established in 1944 by 44 allied nations, created a new international monetary system to stabilize exchange rates, prevent competitive devaluations and promote economic growth. The system was designed to mimic the gold standard, with the US dollar pegged to gold and other currencies pegged to the dollar. The Bretton Woods system collapsed a few decades later, when President Nixon, under pressure due to inflationary factors like the Vietnam War, suspended the dollar’ s convertibility to gold, effectively ending the fixed exchange system in 1973.
Notwithstanding, the US dollar remained the preferred reserve currency because of its stability due to scale and liquidity. After more than half a century of dominance, the US dollar is now under siege. The BRICS nations representing more than 40 %
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