Freight Right

Selling both small and oversized products creates a shipping problem most ecommerce platforms weren't built to solve. Parcel and freight operate under completely different rules. A mixed cart can mean inaccurate rates, expensive flat fees, or no shipping option at all. And while a parcel pricing mistake might cost a few dollars, a freight mistake can cost hundreds. For mixed-catalog brands, getting shipping right at checkout isn't just about customer experience but rather it's about protecting margins.

Trade policy and global supply chains kept moving in several directions this week: Europe is confronting a less predictable global economic order, China is testing a new Arctic shipping corridor, India is reopening wheat exports, and the US-Canada trade relationship has moved from negotiation to open escalation. A few stories worth catching up on: 🟦 Europe’s old growth model is under pressure. ECB President Christine Lagarde argues that the combination of expanding global trade, inexpensive energy and a stable US-backed international order that supported European growth is weakening. More than 2,500 new trade restrictions were introduced globally last year alone, adding another layer of pressure on European competitiveness. CNBC https://lnkd.in/dqE3yxj7 🟦China is putting an Arctic alternative to traditional Asia-Europe shipping routes to the test. A new regular service through Russia’s Northern Sea Route could dramatically shorten transit times between Asia and Europe. But seasonality, sanctions, insurance, environmental risk and Russia's control over much of the route mean it remains a long way from becoming a true alternative to Suez. NBC News https://lnkd.in/gUH6Fqbj 🟦India is returning to the global wheat market. After largely restricting wheat exports since 2022, India has lifted its ban as domestic supplies improve. The timing matters: renewed disruption to Black Sea grain flows has put pressure on global wheat markets, and additional Indian supply could provide some relief to import-dependent countries. Bloomberg News https://lnkd.in/ghyNUsNP 🟦The US-Canada trade dispute is getting broader. President Trump has threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel beginning next year, adding another potential layer of disruption to one of the world's most integrated cross-border manufacturing relationships. The New York Times https://lnkd.in/eS3UKjnG 🟦And the negotiations themselves have broken down. Canada walked away rather than accept the latest US terms and pledged a dollar-for-dollar response to new American tariffs. What started as another tariff negotiation is increasingly looking like a much deeper rethink of the US-Canada economic relationship. The Guardian US https://lnkd.in/g8RMGUnC Taken together, these stories point to a trade environment where resilience is increasingly shaping decisions that used to be driven primarily by cost and efficiency. Alternative shipping routes, new sources of supply and even long-established trading relationships are being reconsidered as geopolitical risk becomes a more permanent part of supply-chain planning.

Global freight rates may look stable, but that doesn't mean operational risks have disappeared. Carriers are actively managing capacity to keep ocean rates firm, while air freight pricing remains relatively steady despite recent weather disruptions. The bigger concern is India, where congestion has pushed booking lead times to roughly three weeks and carriers are introducing strict cancellation and amendment fees. Stable rates don't always mean a stable supply chain. Lane-specific capacity and booking rules matter just as much as the headline price. If you are moving goods this week, do not  book space out of India until your products are fully ready to ship, and add extra time for US East Coast shipments as carriers keep ocean space tight.

Two of the biggest misconceptions about IEEPA refunds are that they're only for large corporations and that it's already too late to file. In reality, many smaller import entries still haven't been processed, and refund opportunities continue through CAPE, administrative protests, and other recovery paths depending on an entry's status. For importers, the first step is simple: review your ACE data before assuming the opportunity has passed. You may have more recoverable capital sitting there than you realize.

If you sell big, heavy items crossborder, you might be overpaying on import taxes without knowing it. When you add together the shipping fees or extra markup into one high price, customs taxes you on the whole total, including the cost to ship it. You can stop losing money by listing shipping costs separately on invoices to lower the taxed amount, shipping items straight from the factory to use the $800 tax-free limit, and using smart checkout tools to show real tax rates instead of just raising prices. Unbundling your costs is the easiest way to save your profits without charging your customers more.

Chinese companies have already recovered nearly $160 million in U.S. tariff refunds, according to Nikkei Asia. But some companies are choosing not to file. Why? Scrutiny. “Their worry is more scrutiny,” Freight Right founder Robert Khachatryan told Nikkei Asia. A refund claim can put the original import entries back in front of CBP. That means another look at valuation, classification, country of origin and the importer of record. For companies with questionable import practices, the refund may not be worth the risk. There is another problem: some exporters no longer have a viable importer of record to make the claim. “The concern is that there is no viable entity to claim the refund,” Robert said. The money involved is significant. CBP had paid roughly $100 billion in refunds by the end of July, and some Chinese companies have received refunds equal to a sizable share of their 2025 profits. For importers, tariff recovery is not just about whether a refund is available. It is about whether the entries, documentation and importer structure can stand up to review. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/g_NDp-W6 by Pak Yiu and Kenji Kawase

Moving big and bulky inventory between the US and Canada isn't simply a longer version of parcel shipping. Routing inventory through a US warehouse before sending it to Canada can add unnecessary duties, handling, and transportation costs. And with Canada's size, consolidating everything through one hub doesn't always produce the savings you'd expect. For oversized freight, smarter routing, direct-to-Canada fulfillment, and the right customs setup can often save more than simply negotiating a lower freight rate.