Firehose Week: Tariffs, “China’s USTR,” MEPC Carbon Tax—and Why Rates Are Still Calm

14/10/2025 26 min
Firehose Week: Tariffs, “China’s USTR,” MEPC Carbon Tax—and Why Rates Are Still Calm

Listen "Firehose Week: Tariffs, “China’s USTR,” MEPC Carbon Tax—and Why Rates Are Still Calm"

Episode Synopsis

Tariff whiplash, “China’s USTR,” and a carbon levy vote—yet spot rates look oddly calm. Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen cut through the chaos: Trump’s 100% tariff warning vs. the Nov 10 tariff snap-back, China’s mirror policy (including the 25% ownership twist), and last-minute U.S. duties on ship-to-shore cranes (with 150% proposed on terminal gear). We also unpack why Trans-Pac spot rates paid are at ~12-month lows despite $3k GRI filings, and what CTS load-date demand says about where volumes are really headed.What you’ll learn:How (and whether) to front-load, and what carriers’ GRI filings signal vs. what’s likely to stickThe operational ripple effects of China’s mirror rules—beyond US–China lanesMEPC carbon levy timing (2027 processes, 2028 payments), plus U.S. retaliation talk and practical impactPlaybook: procurement timing for port equipment, contract/GRI strategy, and communicating risk to your CFOActionable guidance in under 30 minutes—so you can protect margins before the next headline hits.

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