Latest News
-
What the impact of the de minimis exemption on U.S. consumers and businesses
Arriana McLymore & Helen Reid NEW YORK, Aug 29 - The Trump administration ended Friday duty-free imports to the United States of packages valued at less than $800. This so-called de minimis exemption has been a source of controversy. Shipments surge dramatically Global sellers will likely charge higher prices to U.S. customers. On July 30, President Donald Trump announced the end of duty-free parcels for all countries. This will take effect a month after. Tariffs increase the cost of shipments from overseas retailers to the U.S. unless they absorb the tariff costs. This move by the administration expands a move made in May to impose tariffs against these shipments coming from China and Hong Kong. It affects retailers like Shein and Temu who primarily ship out of China. What does the new rule mean for U.S. consumers and small U.S. companies that deal with suppliers overseas? WHY THE MOVE? The Trump administration has taken action against de minimis, claiming that the exemption allowed drug traffickers to send fentanyl-containing parcels into the country. Retailers and industry groups in the United States also oppose the exemption, believing that it gives an unfair advantage to foreign companies like Shein and Temu and some third-party Amazon sellers. Amazon, Shein, and Temu all declined to comment. Prices of goods at Walmart and Target, for example, already reflect the tariffs that retailers pay when they import the products, making them more expensive. What does it mean? The de minimis exclusion enabled an ecommerce boom across borders as U.S. consumers snapped up bargains such as $12 dresses on Temu. Orders valued under $800 were exempt from duty until May 2. In fiscal 2024 1,36 billion shipments were declared as de minimis, with a value of $64.6 Billion. In 2024, according to U.S. Government data, approximately 73% of the de minimis packages that enter the U.S. originate from China. What are the most affected countries? CBP data shows that Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom were the next largest senders. Red Stag Fulfillment, a logistics provider, said that other important sources include South Korea. India, Vietnam, and Thailand. Red Stag reported that since the China exemption was removed on May 2, the de minimis volume has already dropped by a third. Customers of small British businesses who sell online to U.S. customers have been alerted to price increases. Merchant & Mills announced, in an Instagram message, that it will increase its U.S. price by 15% for duties. WHAT ARE THE RAPID EFFECTS? This change has caused chaos in the postal services around the world. Australia Post, Britain’s Royal Mail and Germany’s DHL have all halted shipments to America while they adapt. It's difficult for the post office to enter an environment in which they must collect duties when they have never collected duties before, said Clint Reid. Reid is CEO and founder of Zonos whose software allows businesses to calculate, collect, and remit duty. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that it would take the necessary steps to implement the Order. As U.S. Customs demands information about the origin and nature of goods, sellers will have to increase their paperwork. The Trump administration temporarily halted its initial ban of de minimis shipments to the United States in February as U.S. Customs piled up packages. WHAT DOES IT MEANS FOR ONLINE RETAILERS Shein and Temu, two of the biggest ecommerce companies in China, have had plenty of time to adjust to this change. Although prices have begun to rise on Shein, the most recent change may place it in a stronger position than its rivals. Yao Jin is an associate professor at Miami University. Jin stated that "it is now economically feasible to ship out from China, on a comparative basis. This is because the costs of shipping directly from other countries have also increased." HOW WILL SMALL BUSINESSES BE AFFECTED BY THE BANKRUPTCY? Some small businesses plan to raise their prices in order to offset tariff costs. Platforms such as eBay and Etsy where small businesses and individuals sell anything from vintage soccer shirts and electronics to consumers, advise sellers to inform their customers of tariff-related increases in price.
-
Prices of oil fall due to demand concerns, but are still heading for a weekly gain
The oil prices dropped on Friday, but they are expected to rise for the week. This is due to the expectation of lower demand, as the summer ends in the United States - the largest consumer of oil - and the uncertainty over the Russian supply. Brent crude futures expiring on Friday fell by 53 cents (0.8%) to $68.09, while the contract that is more active for November dropped 48 cents (0.7%) to $67.50. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) were down 51 cents or 0.8% at $64.09. Brent is expected to gain 0.6% per week, while WTI will rise by 0.8%. Prices rose after the Ukrainian attack on Russian oil export facilities earlier this week, and after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Thursday that there would be no meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Prices have been impacted by the fact that the U.S. summer driving period is ending with Labor Day on Monday, and the availability of more supplies from major producers after the voluntary output reductions are over. We expect a rise in global oil stocks in the coming months due to a combination of OPEC+'s rising supply and a seasonal drop in global refining activities from September. In a note, Commonwealth Bank of Australia commodities analysts Vivek Dhar and Vivek Agar predicted that Brent oil futures would fall to $63/bbl by Q4 2025. The U.S. is worried that the U.S. could respond to the Russian attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital early Thursday morning which killed 23 people. Investors are reluctant to make large investments because of uncertainty over U.S. and European sanctions following Russia's attack on Ukraine and the possible impact of U.S. Tariffs on India. Investors will also be watching India's response after Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports, which doubled the U.S. pressure to stop buying Russian crude oil. Traders said that despite the pressure from the United States, Russian oil exports will continue to increase to India in September. Refining sources say that Saudi Arabia, which is the world's largest oil exporter, could cut crude oil prices in October for Asian buyers due to a glut of oil and a weaker demand. The Druzhba Pipeline, which supplies Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba Oil Terminal, has been restored after a disruption caused by an attack on Russia by Ukraine last week. (Reporting and editing by Yuka Obayashi, Sudarshan Varadan and SonaliPaul)
-
Virgin Australia announces 28% increase in annual profit
Virgin Australia announced a nearly 28% increase in its underlying profit for the full year on Friday. This was its first result after relisting. The strong performance of its airline and loyalty programs segments drove this. Virgin, Australia's second largest airline in terms of market share, after Qantas Airways was delisted from the stock exchanges in 2020, after Bain Capital, a private equity firm, rescued Virgin from administration. The company Return to the Homepage The Australian Securities Exchange valued the company at A$2.32 Billion on a fully diluted base in June of this year, after it had an IPO. The company's Airlines division saw its earnings grow by more than 36% for the year ending June 30. This was due to an increase in seats filled with a better passenger mix. Velocity, the company's loyalty program, saw its earnings rise 10.5% on the back of a growing number of active members. According to the airline, its pro forma underlying profit after taxes for the year was A$331 (215.08 millions) in line with its forecast provided at the time it filed its IPO.
-
Brazil updates sector trade agreements with Mexico
Geraldo Alckmin, the Brazilian Vice-President, said that Brazil and Mexico will sign complementary trade agreements in August next year. This was after a Thursday meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Alckmin, speaking at a Mexico City press conference, said that the authorities had signed preliminary agreements on agriculture, health, and biofuels. Brazil wants to export more beef to Mexico. Mexico recently surpassed the U.S.A. as the second most popular destination for Brazilian meat. Brazil is looking to ship more beef to Mexico, which recently overtook the U.S. as the No. Alckmin stated that Mexico demands "traceability" for livestock and Brazil is working to meet this requirement. Alckmin stated, "We want the sale of Brazilian goods to continue while Brazil makes its transition towards traceability. This is something we both agreed upon." Alckmin called the meeting "very good", and added that the two also discussed biofuels, and possible battery production. Alckmin stated that Sheinbaum was interested in the Brazilian biofuel mandate which requires more biofuels to be mixed with fossil fuels. He said that Mexico and Brazil can work together in order to produce electric vehicle batteries. Brazilian motor manufacturer WEG operates in Mexico. He refused to name the Brazilian companies that could be part of an agreement for Mexico to produce ethanol, but said Brazil was interested in providing technology to make it happen. Alckmin stated that the sectorial agreements would refresh deals signed two decades ago. He added that Brazil could not negotiate a free-trade agreement with Mexico outside of the Mercosur bloc. (Reporting and editing by Kylie Madry Ana Isabel Martinez, Nia Williams, Alistair Bell, and Nia William;
-
US FAA to close satellite offices Washington
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to cancel the leases of its satellite offices located in the Washington, D.C. area. It will consolidate operations and move headquarters staff into the building housing the U.S. Transportation Department. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated in an email previously unseen by staff that this move would improve the collaboration. Bedford wrote, "We'll work more efficiently together than if we were spread out over six different offices." This will reduce operating costs significantly and improve collaboration. Bedford announced that the dates of the office moves will be finalized soon. USDOT announced on Tuesday that it would relocate thousands of FAA workers from its headquarters in Washington to the main office of the department. It also plans to consolidate other agency systems and IT. USDOT is a group of agencies that includes the FAA. The Department plans to relocate several thousand employees who work in the Orville and Wilbur Wright Headquarters buildings to its department headquarters located southeast Washington. The question remains as to how many FAA departments -- possibly purchasing, IT and human resources -- will be merged into USDOT, and whether the consolidation will lead to workforce reductions. Nearly 53,000 employees work for USDOT. The FAA is the largest department. This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed employees that the department would begin retiring legacy systems in order to embrace advanced technologies and "streamline processes, consolidate administration functions, and modernize infrastructure" as part of its efforts to "modernize our infrastructure, streamline our processes, and consolidate our administrative functions." Duffy stated that the FAA building was in a serious state of disrepair. Employees were unable to drink the water. Duffy told reporters that it was important to have all the employees working together under one roof. He suggested that some FAA employees may not want to move and "become an entity unto themselves, not responsive to anyone in government." The Trump administration is consolidating office space and reducing the federal workforce. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
-
Trump officials confirm that the end of US low-value packages tariff exemption is permanent.
Officials from the Trump administration said that on Friday, the U.S. tariff-free package shipment exemption will end permanently. However, there is a six month transition period during which shippers of postal services can choose to pay a flat rate of $80 - $200 per package, depending on their country of origin. After 12:01 am EDT (0401 GMT), the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency will begin collecting normal duties on all parcel imports from around the world, regardless of their value. This move expands on the cancellation by the Trump administration of the de minimis exception for shipments coming from China and Hong Kong. Peter Navarro, White House trade advisor, told reporters that President Trump's closing of the deadly de minimis loophole would save thousands of American life by limiting the flow of narcotics. (Reporting and editing by Leslie Adler; Andrea Shalal and David Lawder)
-
BNSF faces a lawsuit from the US EEOC alleging hostile treatment of women at Nebraska railroad yard
On Thursday, a federal appeals court revived an U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against BNSF Railway accusing them of allowing a severe, pervasive and hostile work environment towards women in a western Nebraska railroad yard. The 8th U.S. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Omaha, said a judge dismissed wrongly claims that BNSF sexually harassed Rena Merker, a train conductor, and other female employees at the Alliance Railyard from 2011 until 2022. The allegations include sexual advances, derogatory remarks about women's body, sexually explicit graffiti on locomotives and at the railyard, the soiling of bathrooms for unisex, and the placement of a dead bird on the toilet of a female train conductor. The EEOC accused BNSF of Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on sex. BNSF belongs to Warren Buffett and his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. Railroads and lawyers in Fort Worth, Texas did not respond immediately to comments. Circuit Judge Lavenski Smith, writing for a panel of three judges, said that the EEOC claims were plausible and the trial judge shouldn't have required the agency show that the same harassment was experienced by female workers at the same time. The appeals court rejected the judge’s conclusion that the sexist remarks were "sporadic", and the graffiti was excused because of its "social context", which is a railyard where there are mainly male workers, not a professional office. Smith wrote that "viewing the evidence most favorably for the EEOC," "we conclude that a jury could reasonably find that Merker had been subjected to harassment which was objectively severe, pervasive and widespread." The EEOC has not responded to comments immediately. Merker died on January 20, 2024, but the case continues. The appeals court sent it back to U.S. district judge Brian Buescher of Omaha. Berkshire wasn't a defendant and Buffett’s Omaha-based conglomerate is minimally involved in the day-today operations of its businesses. The case is EEOC v BNSF Railroad Co, 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals No. 24-2082.
-
FAA: Arriving flights at Newark Airport were halted by a telecom issue
The Federal Aviation Administration halted arriving flights for over an hour at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday due to a telecom frequency issue. This is the latest technical problem to cause delays at the airport in New York City. Flightradar24 is a flight-tracking site that reports flights to Newark, the hub of United Airlines, are currently suspended. Flights already in the air are held, but the departures are unaffected. The FAA reported that delays are increasing as flights resume following a 75-minute pause. In April and May, there were two major communications failures for the air traffic controllers in Newark. This caused hundreds of flights to be disrupted. The FAA cut flights at Newark in May after a series major disruptions. Has proposed to extend these through Late October Last year, the FAA moved control of Newark's airspace from Newark to Philadelphia in order to deal with staffing issues and congestion in New York City. The FAA has since upgraded its communications technology in order to prevent similar incidents, but is still working on adding air traffic controllers. (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft; David Shepardson)
Prices of oil fall due to demand concerns but are headed for a weekly gain
The oil price fell on Friday, but is expected to rise for the week. This is due to the expectation of lower demand from the U.S.A., which is the largest oil consumer in the world, and the uncertainty surrounding the Russian supply.
Brent crude futures expiring on Friday fell by 50 cents (0.7%) to $68.12 while the contract that is more active for November dropped 46 cents (0.7%) to $67.52.
West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) were down 45 cents or 0.7% at $64.15.
Both benchmarks rose on Thursday. Brent is expected to gain 0.6% this week, while WTI will rise by 0.8%.
Prices rose earlier this week following the Ukrainian attack on Russian oil export facilities, but dropped dramatically as the market anticipated the end to the summer driving demand in the U.S. with Labor Day on Monday. Also, as major producers began to increase their output after the voluntary production cuts ended.
Hiroyuki Kikakawa, the chief strategist at Nissan Securities Investment (a division of Nissan Securities), said that concerns about the U.S. driving season ending after Labour Day holiday had weighed on the markets.
Investors are still hesitant to make large investments because of the uncertainty over U.S. and European sanctions on Russia after its attack on Ukraine and about possible U.S. Tariffs on India.
Sources said that following the Ukrainian attack on Russia's Ust-Luga Terminal, its main export location on the Baltic Sea of its Urals crude oil, operations will be reduced by half in September, to approximately 350,000 barrels per daily,
The U.S. is worried that the U.S. could respond to the Russian attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital early Thursday morning which killed 23 people.
Investors will also be watching India's response after Trump increased tariffs by up to 50% on Indian imports, following his Wednesday announcement that he would no longer buy Russian oil.
Traders said that despite the pressure from the United States, Russian oil exports will continue to increase to India in September.
Refining sources say that Saudi Arabia, which is the world's largest oil exporter, could cut crude oil prices in October for Asian buyers due to a glut of oil and weak demand.
The Druzhba Pipeline, which supplies Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba Oil Terminal, has been restored after an interruption caused by an attack on Russia by Ukraine last week. (Reporting and editing by Christian Schmollinger; Yuka Obayashi)
(source: Reuters)