The U.S. Airforwarders Association (AfA) has voiced concern following the U.S. government’s imposition of a 10% global import tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. The decision comes after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as a legal basis for previous tariff actions, according to reporting from the American Journal of Transportation.
The new 10% import tariff took effect on February 24 and will be valid until late July. The White House has also signaled an intention to increase the tariff rate to 15%, heightening unease among freight forwarders. The Afa warned that sudden tariff adjustments complicate planning for freight forwarders who are already facing unstable demand cycles.
The move from targeted, country‑specific duties to a blanket global tariff also raises policy concerns in Europe. A CNBC report noted that the European Commission will seek clarification, as the change appears to be out of step with the U.S.–EU trade agreement announced in August 2025, which capped tariffs at 15% and included exemptions for certain European goods exported to the United States.
In its February 24 market update, Freightos noted that shippers are assessing whether the July tariff deadline warrants frontloading. The analyst expects that meaningful tariff reductions, such as those for Brazil, could drive early shipments, while more modest decreases for China and Vietnam may lead to only limited pull‑forward. Political uncertainty surrounding whether the administration will extend tariffs ahead of the U.S. midterm elections may also cause some importers to delay action.
As a result, Freightos anticipates moderately stronger U.S. import volumes and a potentially earlier start to peak season, though the analyst does not expect levels to match the intense front‑loading seen during last year’s tariff cycle.
Meanwhile, several logistics providers including FedEx have filed claims seeking full refunds of tariffs previously paid under IEEPA, as reported by Supply Chain Dive.
Source: American Journal of Transportation, CNBC, The European Commission, Freightos, Supply Chain Dive