Tariff Talk Thursday is Back!
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Tariff Talk Thursday is Back!
Visit our Events page for details or register here.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, honor the courage and sacrifice of first responders, and recognize the countless families and communities forever changed by that day. Twenty-five years later and the impact of September 11 still remains deeply felt across our nation and around the world. Today, we reflect on those we lost, the resilience shown in the days that followed, and the importance of carrying their memory forward.
We will never forget.
On September 8, Canada implemented retaliatory tariffs of 15%, 25%, and 50% on $27.6 billion of U.S. goods, including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, paper products, and electronics. In response, the U.S. announced further Section 338 actions, including changes to the products subject to the existing 50% tariffs effective September 15 and import bans on certain Canadian automotive, dairy, and alcoholic beverage products beginning September 29. The updated tariff scope removes certain products, including rock salt and cement, while adding others, such as ATVs and additional dairy products.
Meanwhile, new Section 232 tariffs on drones and certain components took effect September 3, with additional pharmaceutical measures expected later this month. Section 301 overcapacity tariffs also remain on the horizon, including a potential additional 7.5% tariff on certain Chinese goods. CBP’s Trade and Cargo Security Summit concludes September 10, with the trade community watching for additional ACE and implementation guidance.
The Panama Canal is facing renewed operational constraints as below-expected rainfall and El Niño conditions continue to impact water levels across the Canal watershed. Effective September 3, daily transit availability was reduced to nine slots at the Neopanamax Locks and 25 at the Panamax Locks, with Panamax availability set to decline further to 23 slots beginning September 15. While a planned reduction in the maximum authorized Neopanamax draft has been postponed until October 1, fewer available transit slots could increase waiting times and create additional schedule disruptions for vessels without confirmed reservations.
Meanwhile, congestion at major Asian ports, particularly Shanghai and Ningbo, continues following a series of typhoon-related disruptions, creating additional uncertainty ahead of China’s Golden Week in early October as carriers adjust sailing schedules and announce blank sailings around the holiday period. Also, labor strikes at German and Dutch ports are disrupting Northern European trade. German dockworkers launched a 48-hour warning strike on September 2 across six major ports, including Hamburg and Bremerhaven, followed just two days later by a separate national strike affecting Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Zeeland. With these disruptions occurring simultaneously, shippers should plan ahead, allow additional lead time, and anticipate potential capacity constraints and schedule changes heading into the fourth quarter.
U.S. diesel prices climbed sharply this week. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the national average price for on-highway diesel reached $5.967 per gallon for the week of September 7, up nearly 37 cents from the previous week and more than $2.20 from the same period last year. Prices are even higher in several regions, with the West Coast averaging $6.987 per gallon and California reaching $7.764.
The increase comes as continued disruptions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz place pressure on global energy markets and fuel supplies. Iran recently announced plans for a new maritime “exclusion zone” near the Strait, adding further uncertainty as commercial vessel traffic remains volatile and well below pre-conflict trading patterns. These conditions are contributing to elevated fuel costs and increased operating expenses for trucking companies, potentially placing upward pressure on fuel surcharges and transportation rates throughout the domestic freight market.
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