As April 2 approaches, the global trade community is preparing for what could be one of the most consequential shifts in U.S tariff policy in recent years. The Trump administration has signaled significant duties may take effect, creating uncertainty across global supply chains. In the latest episode of the Dimerco-sponsored Freight Buyers’ Podcast, Cindy Allen (CEO & Managing Director, Trade Force Multiplier) and Greg Knowler (Senior Editor-Europe, Journal of Commerce) unpack what has already changed, what could come next, and what steps global shippers should take now.
A Layered and Increasingly Difficult Tariff Environment
Cindy Allen, a recognized expert on U.S. tariffs and trade compliance, previously served as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance at FedEx Logistics, and as Executive Director of the ACE Business Office at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). She has spent more than 35 years as a customs broker, and aside from her current role as CEO and Managing Director of Trade Force Multiplier, she continues to advise major BCOs on compliance, classification, and regulatory complexity across global supply chains.
“We have 301, we have 232, we have IEEPA duties… It’s stacking tariff duties, one on top of another,” she said. “That has been extremely complex for the trade industry to actually make sense of.”
Even the CBP’s own systems are under pressure, especially when importers must trace steel or aluminum back to the smelting facility that produced a single component. If origin data is unavailable, importers may face significantly higher duties, particularly for shipments involving sensitive metals.
With Little Warning and No Precedent, Shippers are Left Guessing
Although the administration has floated April 2 as a possible launch date for sweeping new tariffs, few concrete details are available. Allen noted that the opacity has created widespread paralysis.
“Anyone who can predict what’s going to happen on April 2nd is lying… We’re just taking a best guess because there is no previous example to base this on, she said.” Knowler echoed this concern, pointing to how repeated changes have made it nearly impossible for procurement teams to create fixed cost structures.
“If there are 50 percent tariffs on a particular product, fine. Make the ruling,” said Knowler. “Give the market a date. Let’s move on. But don’t give a deadline, then extend it, then remove the tariffs, then threaten to bring them back.”
In this featured clip, Cindy Allen explains what companies should expect from the April 2 tariff rollout, why uncertainty remains high, and how importers and exporters can take proactive steps to prepare.
The Feburary De Minimis Failure Showed What Happens When Systems are Not Ready
The February removal of the de minimis treatment for Chinese goodes caused widespread disruption to e-commerce imports. The U.S Postal Service could not support the data or duty collection processes required under the revised enforcement model.
“The U.S Postal service has no way to collect duty or pay it to the government,” said Cindy.
Although the rollback was paused, Allen noted that the issue was far from resolved. One path could involve outsourcing brokerage for all incoming parcels. Another could involve fully privatizing the international parcel flow from origin to final mile. Either path would significantly reshape the cost and handling of cross-border e-commerce.
In this clip below, Cindy Allen explains the ripple effects of removing de minimis exemptions on imports from China, the resulting strain on customs and postal systems, and what future enforcement models could look like.
Ocean and Air Markets Show Signs of Softening, But Not Collapsing
Even as the Red Sea Crisis continues and shipping routes extend around the Cape of Good Hope, spot rates have started to decline across major trades. Knowler attributed the trend to a combination of frontloading and global overcapacity. “Rates are coming down on Asia-to-Europe routes, even with the transits around Africa, because there’s just too much capacity.”
Air cargo, which surged last year due to booming e-commerce out of China, is expected to level off, not crash. Allen emphasized that the cost driver remains the airfreight itself, not the duty line. Even with changes to de minimis, demand for speed will sustain air cargo flows.
Port Call Taxes Raise New Alarms during Section 301 Hearings
Recent Section 301 hearings have introduced the possibility of a new fee structure that could cost carriers significantly per U.S. port call if their vessels were built in China, with estimates reaching into the millions. Allen was clear about the gap between policy ambition and operational reality, “there is just no shipbuilding capacity in the U.S. to be able to take this over.” Many industry stakeholders, including ocean carriers and port authorities, have pushed back strongly on the measure, citing risk to secondary port access and significant cost pass throughs to shippers.
Shippers Should Focus on Data, Compliance & Scenario Planning
Allen advised that companies stop trying to forecast policy decisions and instead build better supply chain control internally. It’s important to create strengthen operations by understanding your inputs and exposures daily. She also encouraged BCOs to invest in audits, tariff engineering, and upstream documentation review now, not later. “Everyone needs to be doing a risk assessment right now. You need to know where your liabilities are, what problems you have.”
What Comes Next?
The key message from these discussions is clear: predictability is no longer a given. Tariff enforcement is shifting, de minimis rules remain unresolved, and market conditions are changing fast. To stay competitive, global shippers need to stay informed and be ready to adapt.
Dimerco works closely with global businesses to navigate uncertainty by offering flexible freight solutions, trade compliance insight, and region-specific expertise. By staying close to shifting policy and market conditions, we help customers respond quickly and plan with greater clarity.
For more expert perspectives on global trade and logistics, listen to the latest episodes of the Freight Buyers’ Club and subscribe for ongoing access to industry updates, tariff developments, and market strategy insights.
Looking to strengthen your global supply chain? Connect with one of our specialists to learn how Dimerco can support your business in navigating what’s next.
Dimerco’s Tariff Calculator
If you’re reviewing your exposure to new tariffs, Dimerco offers a no-cost Tariff Impact Calculator to help. Share your trade data and import volumes, and we’ll assess the potential financial impact in just a few days.
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