FASA

Michael Watson, who became an associate administrator in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, was promoted from a deputy position in which he was overseeing Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services.

The position has remained vacant since David Mills left the post at the end of the Obama administration.

The requests from the European Union and China for consultations on tariffs from the United States on solar cells are the first step in the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute process and follow similar requests by Taiwan and South Korea.

Following a Senate Finance Committee meeting with President Donald Trump, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is clearing the way for a committee vote on nominations for the U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and a deputy U.S. Trade Representative.

The logistics software provider, which has made fast inroads into the food producer and commodity trading markets, will now offer users tools to quickly assess carrier metrics.

Total U.S. rail volumes were relatively steady in January 2018, as a 3.4 percent year-over-year decline in carloads was offset by a 3.5 percent increase in intermodal traffic, according to the latest data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

German business associations say they are fed up with an increase of cargo thefts throughout Germany and have launched a joint initiative to fight back.

Under the deal, Hong Kong-based terminal operator China Merchants Port Holdings Co. (CMPort) will pay $607.5 million Australian (U.S. $473.8 million) for a 50 percent stake in the largest port on the East Coast of Australia.

UPS has started an international guaranteed midday freight delivery service for cargo originating in 71 countries and shipped to 35 destination countries.

Taiwanese ocean carrier Evergreen Marine Corp. on Thursday entered an agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries to construct eight 11,000-TEU containerships, with deliveries starting in early 2020.