Shipping, ports, freight, inventory and the rules that move goods.
IATA says air cargo demand rose 7.7% year on year in September, led by North American carriers and trans-Pacific AI hardware, while jet fuel prices more than doubled and yields lagged.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach each posted their busiest month on record in September 2026, handling a combined 2.04 million TEUs as imports rose 19% and 31% respectively.
Rotterdam handled 323.2 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2026, up 0.9%, as crude, oil products and coal rose and container transhipment fell 20% on terminal capacity limits.
The WTO now expects world merchandise trade volume to grow 3.9% in 2026, up from 1.9%, as AI-related imports outweigh energy and shipping disruption from the Middle East conflict.
USTR is taking comments until January 12, 2027, ahead of an annual USMCA joint review triggered when the United States declined to extend the agreement at its first review in July.
