From sudden tariff changes to port congestion in Southern California, falling ocean rates, major technology shifts among freight forwarders, and a notable 3PL bankruptcy, there is a lot for shippers to process from this past week.

We have broken down the five most important stories and what they mean for your business, whether you are running a growing ecommerce brand or managing enterprise-level global operations.

The Top 5 Shipping Stories This Week

1. New U.S. Tariffs Take Effect After Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Trade Policy

The Supreme Court of the United States struck down tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), ruling that only Congress has the authority to levy import duties.

However, within hours of that decision, the administration enacted new 10 to 15 percent global tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, effective February 24.

Key Details:

• 10 percent baseline tariff, rising to 15 percent
• Exemptions include energy, pharmaceuticals, autos, aerospace, critical minerals, and USMCA-compliant goods
• Applies broadly to global imports not covered by exemptions

What It Means for Shippers

While one set of tariffs was removed, another immediately replaced it, meaning landed costs, your total cost including duties and freight, may still rise.

For:

• Operations Managers: Recalculate cost per SKU, especially for non-exempt goods.
• Supply Chain Directors: Review sourcing strategies and supplier geography.
• Ecommerce Leaders: Prepare for potential margin compression or pricing adjustments.

This is a reminder that tariff policy can change quickly, and your pricing and procurement strategies must be flexible enough to respond.

2. Southern California Port Congestion Returns as Vessel Dwell Times Surge

Congestion is building again at the Port of Los Angeles, where vessel dwell times spiked 91 percent above the four-week rolling average. At the same time, container ship arrivals dropped sharply ahead of Lunar New Year due to blank sailings, or cancelled voyages.

What is happening:

• Vessel calls dropped from 21 per day to just 2 to 3
• 63 percent of February blank sailings are on transpacific eastbound routes
• Higher rollover risk, meaning cargo may be bumped to later sailings

While volumes are softer than during the 2021 to 2022 crisis, unpredictability is increasing.

What It Means for Shippers

If you rely on West Coast imports from Asia:

• Expect potential delays of one to two or more weeks.
• Monitor container dwell times closely.
• Consider diversifying ports, including East Coast or Gulf Coast options.
• Build additional buffer time into inventory planning.

For smaller brands, this could mean stockouts if safety stock is too tight. For enterprise brands, this may affect on time, in full performance and retail compliance penalties.

Visibility and proactive communication with carriers and forwarders are critical right now.

3. Major Freight Forwarder Moves Away from CargoWise Technology

Global freight forwarder DSV has begun migrating from WiseTech’s CargoWise platform to DB Schenker’s proprietary Tango transport management system, or TMS. About 30 percent of operations have already transitioned.

This move comes amid pricing changes from CargoWise that have prompted many logistics providers to reassess their technology stacks.

Why This Matters Beyond DSV

Technology is the backbone of shipment visibility, booking, documentation, and billing. When a major forwarder changes its core operating system:

• API integrations must work seamlessly
• Data flows must remain uninterrupted
• Service quality must be maintained during transition

What It Means for Shippers

For companies working with large global forwarders:

• Ask how system migrations may affect tracking visibility.
• Confirm no changes to documentation flow or billing processes.
• Evaluate whether your logistics partners offer flexible tech integrations.

For growing brands, this is also a reminder that logistics technology costs and scalability matter. Your systems should grow with you, not lock you into expensive long-term dependencies.

4. Ocean Freight Rates Continue to Fall as Overcapacity Builds

Global container rates declined for the sixth straight week, falling to 1,919 dollars per 40-foot container. Asia to U.S. West Coast rates dropped nearly 8 percent week over week.

Carriers have responded to weaker demand and Lunar New Year slowdowns by cancelling 136 sailings across major trade lanes.

Despite these blank sailings, structural overcapacity in the global fleet is expected to reach nearly 10 percent by 2027.

What It Means for Shippers

Lower spot rates create negotiation opportunities.

For:

• Operations and Procurement Teams: Renegotiate contracts where possible.
• Mid-sized importers: Consider short-term spot exposure if volumes are flexible.
• Enterprise shippers: Blend contract and spot strategies strategically.

However, falling rates often come with:

• Schedule instability
• Increased blank sailings
• Service reliability risks

Cheaper freight does not always mean smoother freight. Balance cost savings with carrier reliability.

5. 3PL Bankruptcy Highlights Vendor Risk in Fulfillment Networks

Las Vegas-based Global Logistics & Fulfillment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, underscoring the financial strain some logistics providers face in today’s competitive ecommerce environment.

The company had served as a provider for Amazon-related logistics operations.

What It Means for Shippers

For brands relying on third-party logistics providers, or 3PLs:

• Diversification matters.
• Financial due diligence matters.
• Contingency planning matters.

If one fulfillment partner fails, how quickly can you shift inventory or reroute orders?

For:

• eCommerce Directors: Review service level agreements and backup fulfillment options.
• Supply Chain Leaders: Conduct periodic financial health reviews of 3PL partners.
• COOs and VPs of Operations: Ensure you are not over-concentrated in a single warehouse or provider.

Resilience is not just about ports and carriers. It is about your fulfillment network as well.

The Bottom Line

This week reflects a broader theme of volatility with opportunity.

• Tariff rules changed overnight.
• Port congestion returned despite softer volumes.
• Ocean rates are falling, but reliability remains uneven.
• Major forwarders are reshaping their technology infrastructure.
• A 3PL bankruptcy highlights operational risk.

Shipping conditions can change quickly, but informed and agile operators will always have the advantage.