What We're Reading: Trendwatch Week 13

Trump’s new NAFTA running out of room to find path in Congress

March 26, 2019 - For President Donald Trump’s new North American trade accord to become law, he’ll need the help of a political rival with a track record of blocking such deals. Once again, Speaker Pelosi will play a pivotal role for Trump’s renegotiated accord with Mexico and Canada, renamed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which isn’t one of her legislative priorities. It’s a change of pace from the frenetic year of negotiations that led to the deal being signed by leaders from all three countries in November.
Source: American Journal of Transportation 


Brexit: MPs prepare for votes in bid to break deadlock

March 27, 2019 - Some MPs want the PM to name the date she will leave No 10 to have any hope of getting their backing for her deal. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said some leading Brexiteers were "tiptoeing their way" towards supporting her plan. Jacob Rees-Mogg has said of the deal: "Half a loaf is better than no bread." He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he did not "begin to pretend this is a good deal or a good choice", but he would support the PM's plan if it had the backing of the Democratic Unionist Party.
Source: BBC

Global trade takes sharp turn down with biggest drop since 2009 

March 25, 2019 - Global trade has taken a sharp turn down, reinforcing the view that the world economy is in its worst state since the financial crisis a decade ago. Figures published Monday show trade fell 1.8 percent in the three months through January compared with the previous period. That’s the biggest drop since May 2009. On an annual basis, trade posted its first decline in nine years.
Source: Bloomberg 


Shipping confidence up despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty 

March 23, 2019 - Confidence in the shipping industry has risen in the last three months despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from leading shipping adviser and accountant BDO. The average confidence level rose to 6.2 out of maximum score of 10.0 this quarter compared to 6.0 in Q4 2018.
Source: The Maritime Executive 


Shippers want more transparency from those who handle their ocean freight

March 23, 2019 - Shippers have called on carriers, infrastructure operators and freight service providers to improve visibility in the ocean freight supply chain. Speaking at the European Shippers’ Council’s Maritime Day in Rotterdam last week, Bart Kuipers of the city’s Erasmus University said ports had a particularly bad reputation.
Source: The Loadstar  


New York's plan to reduce truck traffic with barges moves ahead

March 26, 2019 - New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) released a request for proposals (RFP) Monday seeking operators for the new marine terminal on the Hunts Point Peninsula in the South Bronx, according to a press release. 
Source: Supply Chain Dive

 

U.S. offshore wind a $70 billion opportunity for supply chain

March 26, 2019 - The U.S.'s burgeoning offshore wind industry, projected to generate nearly 20GW of power in seven East Coast states by 2030, presents a nearly $70 billion CAPEX revenue opportunity to businesses in the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. That's according to a new white paper by the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind (SIOW) with analysis by the Renewables Consulting Group.
Source: American Journal of Transportation