Domestic truckload rates jumped 6.5 percent for the month compared to February 2017, following year-over-year increases of 6.5 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively, in January and December, according the latest Cass Truckload Linehaul Index.

Intermodal pricing increased another 5.4 percent for the month compared with the same 2017 period, the 17th consecutive monthly year-over-year increase, according to the latest Cass Intermodal Price Index.

Multiple companies at the SCOPE Supply Chain & Procurement Summit in Chicago this week discussed disruptions in their supply chains, along with what they are doing to combat disruptions.

China appears to have suggested it would retaliate against U.S. tariffs ordered by President Donald Trump Thursday, as well as a separate string of generally global tariffs on steel and aluminum Trump called for.

President Donald Trump signed off on tariffs covering $50 billion-$60 billion worth of products from China shortly before 1:00 p.m. today.

U.S. tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum imports will have a limited impact on most international bulk trades, but could hinder containerized shipping, BIMCO Chief Shipping Analyst Peter Sand said.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer named several countries that could potentially be excluded from steep U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, and discussed progress on the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Michael Khouri, acting chairman on the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, attended the Fourth Japan-U.S. Maritime Bilateral Meeting and met with regulators at the Japan Fair Trade Commission this week.

The new loop will link South China and Japan with Southeast Asia, utilizing four vessels averaging 4,754 TEUs.

The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index slipped 2.6 percent compared with the previous month, but remained 5.7 percent higher than in February 2017.