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This two-part episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club Podcast, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, unpacks the biggest trade and freight disruptions of 2025, from new U.S. tariffs and de minimis rule changes to air cargo market challenges and supply chain resilience strategies.
In Part 1, host Mike King is joined by Greg Knowler (Senior Editor-Europe, Journal of Commerce) and Cindy Allen (CEO & Managing Director, Trade Force Multiplier) to analyse:

Tariff Day or Liberation Day? What to expect from Trump’s April 2 tariff hikes and why they could be a game-changer for global trade.
De minimis chaos and e-commerce disruption – How the failed rollout of new U.S. import rules in February created market turmoil, and whether regulators are ready this time.
Container shipping market outlook – With the Red Sea crisis ongoing and rates fluctuating, what’s driving the latest spot rate trends?
Trans-Atlantic frontloading and trade retaliation – How businesses are adapting to rising uncertainty, and why U.S.-Europe trade flows are shifting.
U.S. Customs and policy implementation – Insights from Cindy Allen’s time at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on how government agencies enforce trade policy.
Freight procurement strategy – How BCOs can navigate unpredictable tariffs, shifting shipping costs, and regulatory uncertainty.

In Part 2, Mike sits down with Robert Van de Weg (CEO, ‘mas’ cargo airline) for an exclusive discussion on the air cargo market, including:

The freighter and air cargo outlook for 2025 – Will demand and rates continue to soften, or are new disruptions ahead?
How de minimis and tariff changes are impacting air cargo flows – What shippers and airlines must prepare for.
Navigating a volatile freight market – Lessons from Robert’s leadership experience at KLM Cargo, Cargolux, Atlas Air, and ECS Group.
Opportunities and risks for freighter operators in 2025 – How ‘mas’ is planning its fleet expansion amid uncertainty.
The future of air cargo – What shippers, forwarders, and airlines must do to stay ahead in an unpredictable market.

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. Learn more at dimerco.com.
Featuring
Cindy Allen, CEO and Managing Director, Trade Force Multiplier
Robert Van De Weg, CEO, ‘mas’ cargo airline
Greg Knowler, Senior Editor-Europe, Journal of Commerce
Mike King, Host and Producer, The Freight Buyers’ Club
Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.  Learn more at dimerco.com.
 
Episode in more detail
Part 1 – Greg Knowler and Cindy Allen with Mike King
 
Chaos at London Heathrow airport (3.28)
Container shipping market outlook and disruptions (6.19)
Cindy Allen: U.S. tariffs, implications and confusion over duties (9.09)
Tariff retaliation vs U.S. (16.25)
Explained: U.S. de minimis regulations and implementation options (18.48)
Is the Trump administration working with CBP and other agencies (26.16)
Post-de minimis, who applies and collects duties? (29.08)
301 hearing and taxing U.S. port calls (33.22)
Liberation Day? Tariff Day? What to expect on 2 April (36.42)
Trans-Atlantic frontloading (39.46)
Global air cargo rates outlook and de minimis impact (40.40)
A new era for t…

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King is joined by ocean freight executive Stephanie Loomis, who brings over 30 years of industry experience at major logistics providers including DHL, DB Schenker, Kuehne + Nagel, and Rhenus. Fresh from the TPM25 conference in Long Beach, Stephanie and Mike break down the key takeaways from the event and analyse the seismic shifts happening across the global container shipping industry.
They dive into the evolving liner alliance structures, exploring how MSC’s independent strategy, ONE’s excellence, and Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s Gemini Cooperation are reshaping service offerings. Stephanie also unpacks the pressure mounting on small and mid-sized shippers and forwarders, explaining why the days of smaller players securing rates comparable to BCOs may be over—and what SMEs must do to stay competitive.
The conversation moves to the outlook for transpacific freight negotiations, examining the impact of Red Sea disruptions, market softening, and spot rate volatility. With tariff uncertainty ever present, Stephanie provides crucial insights into how forwarders and importers should structure their contracts to balance MQCs, visibility, and spot market flexibility.
As policy changes threaten to drive up shipping costs, the discussion turns to President Trump’s US shipbuilding push, the controversial $1.5M per-port call fee set to be imposed on Chinese ships, and the geopolitical implications of China’s dominance in vessel construction.
More specifically, can the US realistically rebuild its maritime and manufacturing sectors, or will these policies backfire on American shippers and consumers?
Rounding off the episode, Stephanie and Mike explore the role of technology in driving efficiency across the supply chain, from digitalization to AI-driven logistics solutions. Tune in for a fast-paced, insight-packed discussion on what lies ahead for ocean freight buyers in 2025.
Key Topics Discussed:

Takeaways from TPM25: What’s changing in container shipping?
Carrier strategies: MSC, Maersk-Hapag, ONE’s primacy and the future of alliances
The growing divide between large BCOs and SME freight buyers
Transpacific rate negotiations: What importers need to know
Tariff uncertainty and how forwarders are managing the risk
US shipbuilding ambitions: Reality check or political posturing?
How tech and AI are reshaping logistics and freight procurement

This episode is sponsored by Ontegos Cloud. Learn more at Ontegos Cloud.
Listen now on all major podcast platforms, YouTube, and https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com.
Follow The Freight Buyers’ Club and Mike King on LinkedIn for more insights and industry updates!

Fresh U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China are reshaping global trade dynamics, creating unprecedented challenges for businesses worldwide. Filmed live at #TPM25 in Long Beach on March 4, in this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, Paul Bingham, Director of Transportation Consulting at S&P Global Market Intelligence, offers an in-depth analysis of these transformative trade policies.
 
Sponsored by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/], this episode provides business leaders, economists, and trade professionals with crucial perspectives on the evolving global trade environment. Don’t miss this expert analysis that goes beyond headlines to explore the nuanced reality of international commerce.

As news broke at #TPM25 in Long Beach that MSC/BlackRock had acquired most of Hutchison Port Holdings’ global port network—including key Panama terminals flagged by President Trump for excessive Chinese control—host Mike King breaks down the deal with container shipping expert Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime.
They also dive into tariff wars, the container shipping outlook, Suez, and potential US port fees for container lines.
Key Highlights:
Exclusive insights into the massive MSC/BlackRock deal involving Hutchison Ports
Deep dive into the latest Trump administration trade policies and tariffs
Unpacking the potential impacts on transatlantic and global trade
Expert perspectives on shipping uncertainty, port operations, and future market challenges
Timestamps:
0:00 – MSC/Blackrock Hutchison Ports Deal
3:00 – New Tariffs Landscape
5:00 – Trade Uncertainty and Market Volatility
7:00 – Peak Season and Shipping Dynamics
9:00 – Potential US Port Fees and Shipping Implications
Recorded live at #TPM25 in Long Beach on March 4th, this episode provides critical insights for anyone involved in global logistics, shipping, and international trade. Big thanks to Dimerco Express Group for supporting this episode of  @thefreightbuyersclub2866 
https://dimerco.com/
www.thefreightbuyersclub.com
Featuring Lars Jensen, Maritime Expert and CEO of Vespucci Maritime
Host: Mike King

In this special episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, recorded at #TPM25 and produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King speaks with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach. They discuss the port’s record-breaking 2024 and the key trends shaping global trade in 2025. ✅ Will shippers stick with the West Coast, or will traffic shift back east? ✅ How labor strikes and tariff threats shaped shipping patterns ✅ Why Long Beach handled 9.6 million TEUs with no congestion ✅ The impact of Red Sea disruptions and shifting container alliances https://dimerco.com/

At TPM25, host Mike King with Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, about the shifting landscape of global shipping. They discussed the Gemini Cooperation with Maersk and its goal of achieving 90% schedule reliability, how shippers are responding to tariff uncertainties, and whether customers will pay a premium for reliability.
Rolf also shared insights on investment priorities, the hub-and-spoke model, and how geopolitical risks impact ocean freight strategies.
Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.

The global trading landscape is experiencing seismic shifts under President Trump’s administration. In this pivotal episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club (https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/), we decode the impact of new tariffs, de minimis rule changes, and escalating geopolitical tensions reshaping supply chains worldwide.
Join host Mike King with two industry powerhouses:

Bronson Hsieh, former Chairman of Evergreen and Yang Ming Shipping, reveals how smaller carriers can outperform industry giants and shares his outlook on shipping profitability amid market turbulence
Kathy Liu, VP of Global Sales & Marketing at Dimerco Express Group, unpacks the air freight implications of U.S. policy changes and provides strategic insights for companies eyeing Vietnam as their next manufacturing hub

As the industry prepares for TPM25 in Long Beach in early March, we explore pressing questions about carrier contract negotiations, emerging Asian manufacturing alternatives, and innovative logistics solutions in Southeast Asia.
Discover how leading companies are adapting their e-commerce and container shipping strategies to navigate this new era of global trade.
Presented in partnership with Dimerco Express Group. Learn more at dimerco.com

 
In this standalone interview from EP34 of the The Freight Buyers’ Club (https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/), produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King speaks with maritime law expert Lauren Beagen, ‘The Maritime Professor’, about the top five regulatory and policy issues that could impact freight buyers in 2025:

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Leadership & Powers – With Louis E. Sola as the new FMC Chair, what changes should shippers expect? Will the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) remain intact?
Detention & Demurrage Policy – Ongoing legal battles over pandemic-era charges could reshape D&D regulations.
Panama & U.S. Policy – The FMC’s role in addressing Chinese influence, corruption, and water level issues at the Panama Canal.
Container Shipping Alliances & MQCs – How the FMC is scrutinizing carrier agreements and minimum quantity commitments (MQCs) in contracts.
The SHIPS Act & National Security – U.S. flagged fleet expansion, supply chain security, and scrutiny of Chinese shipping dominance.

Plus, shipbuilding initiatives & eBLs!

In episode 34 of The Freight Buyers’ Club (https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/), produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group (https://dimerco.com/), we dive into the critical factors shaping this year’s ocean freight contract negotiations. As the transpacific contracting season approaches at TPM25 to be held at Long Beach at the start of March, we examine how spot rates, minimum quantity commitments, new carrier alliances, and US trade policy are influencing shipper strategies. With spot rates tumbling, uncertainty around tariffs, and the emergence of the Gemini Alliance, what should freight buyers consider when planning their 2025 contracts?
Host Mike King speaks with industry veterans Jon Monroe of Jon Monroe Consulting, Mark Szakonyi from Journal of Commerce, and maritime law expert Lauren Beagen to unpack these market dynamics and explore how regulatory changes at the Federal Maritime Commission could impact shipping contracts and detention and demurrage policies.
 
Guests
Mark Szakonyi, executive editor, Journal of Commerce
Jon Monroe, founder, Jon Monroe Consulting
Lauren Beagen, maritime lawyer and host of ‘By Land and By Sea Podcast’

In this illuminating episode of The Freight Buyers Club Insight series, produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud (https://www.ontegos.cloud/), host Mike King sits down with Mads Drejer, Global CCO and COO of Scan Global Logistics, for a wide-ranging discussion on freight markets and modern logistics leadership.
From navigating tariff wars to embracing what Drejer calls our new state of “permacrisis,” the conversation offers unique insights into how global trade has become more resilient amid constant disruption. Drejer shares SGL’s distinctive approach to growth and technology, explaining why the company puts people before automation and “customer obsession” ahead of “competition obsession”.
The discussion covers everything from the Red Sea crisis and changing carrier alliances to why logistics has finally “moved into the boardroom” post-COVID. Drejer also offers a refreshingly optimistic take on the future, arguing for a balance between technological advancement and human expertise, while explaining why the industry must adapt to attract and retain younger talent.
https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/