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The long-awaited changes by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to modernize trade through the 21st Century Customs Framework (21CCF) are soon likely to be law. The impact will be substantial and widespread, using technology, transparency, and seamless data sharing to improve the flow of legitimate trade while targeting and enforcing compliance against unfair trade practices and high-risk importers. These changes will also have major implications for licensed customs brokers and U.S. importers of all types and sizes. Don’t be caught unaware!

In January 2022, the world entered another year of living and working in the Covid-19 pandemic and the major changes that came with it. The collective machine of makers, movers, and sellers that keep global commerce going sought sage advice from analysts to brace for what might come next. As the single largest disruption in modern history, the pandemic was also the most extensive stress test of economies, businesses, and supply chains worldwide. It is important to note that the pandemic did not create new weaknesses. Rather it accentuated existing fractures within organizations, processes, and systems — often to the point of failure.

With increased pressure placed on supply chains over the past few years, transportation technology solutions for railroads, shippers, logistics providers, and railcar lessors present an attractive opportunity for supply chain innovation. On any given day, more than 40% of all goods in North America travel on a freight railroad.

History is remarkable, and the expression is true; it repeats itself. In a blog post five years ago, I wrote that the year would “go down in the record books as the year of changing trade regulations.” Here is an excerpt from that 2017 blog. “Tax and duty, preferential trade, import/export controls, and other complex laws are all under the regulator’s microscope in countries around the world, adding another layer of risk to global commerce. Organizations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), UK National Crime Agency (NCA) and others are working to ensure that businesses do not engage in bribery as a means to obtain or retain business. Numerous countries worldwide have passed anti-corruption laws, such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the UK Bribery Act, the Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA), Chinese Anti-Corruption Laws, and more. Some laws do not distinguish between small and large bribery payments, thus prohibiting facilitat...

While the goal of global sourcing and using outsourced manufacturing is to lower manufacturing costs, the increased complexity that comes from leveraging internal and external manufacturers brings significant challenges. Chief among these are the obstacles to managing visibility and control, obstacles that can negate financial benefits. For instance, when quality issues arise, the disconnected and far-flung nature of third-party manufacturing makes them hard to detect.

Recently, Adrian Gonzalez of Talking Logistics sat down with e2open's Mehmet Demirci to learn more about why companies are becoming more supply driven, and what the difference is between forecasting and sensing, and how AI plays a role. Here’s an excerpt from their conversation:

Whether it’s a hurricane, flood, wildfire, tsunami, or another type of severe weather or disaster, if you work in transportation or logistics, you are undoubtedly aware of the supply chain challenges that arise in the aftermath of such events.

Planning for peak holiday seasons is an all-consuming task for major e-commerce shippers. While there are expectations for 2022 to be less disruptive than in recent years, e-commerce shippers must still be prepared. Organizations should have airtight plans for the stress that will come from demand on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the days that follow.

Supply chain traceability has long been a niche need for companies that wanted extra quality control measures, sought to avoid import tariffs, or wanted to qualify their imports for preferential trade status. These are still important considerations, but traceability in the supply chain is gaining momentum to address other risks.