Shipping and logistics are starting 2026 with a jolt. From tariff threats that could upend North American supply chains to new last-mile pricing experiments and tightening global capacity, this week’s developments carry real implications for cost, service levels, and inventory planning.

We’ve pulled together the five shipping stories that matter most right now, along with clear explanations of what they mean for shippers, whether you’re running a lean ecommerce operation or managing an enterprise-scale supply chain.

Here’s what you need to know.

The Top 5 Shipping Stories This Week

1. A Potential Shock to North American Freight: Trump Floats 100% Tariff on Canadian Imports

The U.S. trade environment grew more volatile this week after President Trump threatened a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. if Canada moves forward with a proposed trade agreement with China.

For shippers, this is more than political posturing. Canada plays a critical role in North American manufacturing, raw materials, and intermediate goods. A tariff of this size would instantly double landed costs on affected products and disrupt established cross-border freight flows.

What It Means for Shippers

If your supply chain touches Canada, even indirectly, this is a serious risk scenario. Tariffs of this magnitude can break existing pricing models, force rapid sourcing changes, and create unexpected delays at the border.

What You Should Do Now

Review your country-of-origin data at the SKU and component level. Identify any Canadian-sourced materials and begin evaluating U.S. or Mexico-based alternatives as contingency options. Even if this tariff never materializes, preparedness is now a competitive advantage.

2. USPS Tests a New Way to Buy Last-Mile Capacity

The U.S. Postal Service quietly launched a new platform called “Bid & Deliver,” allowing shippers to bid on last-mile delivery capacity through a reverse-auction model. The idea is simple: USPS fills excess capacity by offering competitive, lane-specific pricing, especially for same-day or next-day delivery injected directly into local post offices.

This is a notable shift away from rigid zone-based pricing and could open doors for mid-sized shippers who don’t have massive negotiated parcel contracts.

What It Means for Shippers

This could lower last-mile costs in dense metro areas, especially for brands shipping high volumes to a concentrated customer base.

What You Should Do Now

Register for the USPS bidding portal and test small volumes on select lanes. Compare bid rates against your current parcel spend, not just base rates, but total delivered cost, to see where USPS might outperform private carriers.

3. Parcel Discounts Look Better, But Total Shipping Costs Keep Rising

UPS and FedEx are offering deeper discounts to win and retain SMB volume, but new data shows overall parcel shipping costs are still climbing. Why? Surcharges.

Residential delivery fees, peak surcharges, and accessorial charges are rising fast, often offsetting any headline discount your carrier rep is advertising. In practice, many shippers are paying more per package even while being told they’re getting a “better deal.”

What It Means for Shippers

Focusing only on discount percentages is risky. The real cost of shipping lives in the surcharges, not the base rate.

What You Should Do Now

Shift contract analysis toward net cost per package. Model how 2026 surcharge increases, often 8–12% in real terms, affect your actual shipping profile before signing or renewing carrier agreements.

4. Canada Post Labor Deal Avoids Disruption, but Slows Service Improvements

Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers reached tentative labor agreements this week, avoiding a strike. However, the deal also scraps planned operational upgrades such as dynamic routing and expanded weekend delivery for high-volume shippers.

For U.S. and Canadian ecommerce brands, this means service levels into Canada are unlikely to improve anytime soon.

What It Means for Shippers

Canada Post remains reliable, but not faster. Expectations around delivery speed, especially on weekends, should be managed carefully.

What You Should Do Now

For time-sensitive Canadian orders, continue leaning on regional carriers or private couriers like Purolator or FedEx. Canada Post remains useful for cost control, but not for premium delivery experiences.

5. Lunar New Year Tightens Capacity, Even With Softer Demand

Despite weaker overall import demand, carriers are warning of localized capacity crunches ahead of Lunar New Year (February 17). The issue isn’t volume, it’s timing.

Carriers are aggressively canceling sailings to manage capacity, which compresses freight into fewer departures. That concentration is already driving higher drayage and transloading costs at key U.S. ports.

What It Means for Shippers

Even if you’re shipping less, your freight may face delays once it arrives. Port congestion and limited trucking availability can slow goods moving from dock to warehouse.

What You Should Do Now

Add 7–10 days of buffer to lead times for shipments arriving in late January and early February. Confirm firm drayage bookings early to avoid getting bumped by larger shippers during this seasonal squeeze.

The Bottom Line

This week reinforced a familiar theme in logistics: risk is shifting faster than ever. Tariff threats, evolving carrier pricing models, labor dynamics, and global capacity management are all reshaping how, and how reliably, goods move.