US Logistics Update [Feb 28, 2026]-English

• President Trump confirmed on the 28th that the U.S. had attacked Iran and declared that he would destroy Iran's missiles, missile industry, and navy. In an 8-minute video posted on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump stated, “Our goal is to protect the American people by eliminating the imminent threat from Iran.” He justified the attack by noting that since the U.S. military struck Iran's nuclear facilities last year, “Iran has attempted to rebuild its nuclear program” and recently refused to agree to abandon its nuclear ambitions in negotiations. He emphasized, “This terrorist regime will never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.” Later that same afternoon on the 28th, President Trump announced on Truth Social, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.”

Global air travel is experiencing major disruption as airspace over the region has been closed following the full-scale airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and parts of Qatar has been closed, forcing numerous flights to be rerouted, canceled, or have their routes changed. Major airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, Air India, and the Lufthansa Group have temporarily suspended or adjusted flights to key Middle Eastern destinations such as Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Doha. Beyond flight suspensions, some carriers are implementing alternative routes to avoid the affected airspace, significantly increasing flight times. Furthermore, the Port of Doha announced the suspension of all maritime activities due to the epercussions of military operations.

• On the 20th, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the mutual tariffs (10-15%) imposed on all countries and the fentanyl-related tariffs targeting specific countries (Canada, Mexico, China, etc.) by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal measures exceeding presidential authority. Consequently, the estimated $175 billion in tariff refunds has become a matter of utmost concern. China, etc.) related to fentanyl exceeded the President's authority and were unlawful. Consequently, the estimated $175 billion in tariff refunds has become a matter of utmost concern, though it remains highly uncertain whether these refunds will actually materialize. However, legal experts advise that it is necessary to initiate the refund process in advance to secure the right to a refund. To avoid missing this opportunity, companies should take the following steps:

•    Register on the ACE Portal: Register importer information on the U.S. Customs and Border

Protection (CBP) system, the ACE Portal, and update ACH information (many  

       companies have not even completed this first step).

•    Retain Supporting Documentation: Organize payment proof documents such as the

Customs Declaration Form (CF 7501), invoices, packing lists, and Bills of

Lading (B/L) by customs transaction number.

•    Strictly adhere to deadlines: To protect your refund rights, you must file a Protest within

180 days after customs clearance is completed (Liquidation). Liquidation is the

       process where Customs finalizes the duty amount for an import. For

shipments where Liquidation is complete (finalized), you must file a ‘Protest’

within 180 days of the finalization date to maintain your legal eligibility for a

refund. Conversely, for cases not yet liquidated (still in customs processing), it

is highly likely that Customs will automatically adjust duties to zero to reflect

the Supreme Court ruling. Therefore, it is advantageous to wait and observe

Customs' automatic adjustment guidelines rather than filing a protest

immediately.

The Supreme Court invalidated the tariff and remanded the case to the lower court, the Court of International Trade (CIT). Consequently, the CIT will now first draft specific ' refund implementation guidelines'. Only after the CIT issues its official order will U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) establish the detailed retroactive application manual (including interest calculation and refund procedures). Therefore, companies should thoroughly prepare relevant supporting documents and wait until the CIT's subsequent announcement.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that the confusion caused by President Trump's tariff policies has created a new market for buying and selling the ‘right to a refund’ that may be claimed later. According to brokers, the price of tariff refund claims, which was only 20 cents per dollar before the Supreme Court ruling, has soared to about 40 cents since the ruling. Some companies, concerned it will take a long time, are trying to sell their refund rights immediately at a discounted price to secure cash, while others are choosing to hold out until they can get the full amount back later.

•  North American Vessel Dwell Times        

• U.S. Halts Ship Operations Following Military Conflict with Iran

  Immediately after the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale airstrikes related to Iran's nuclear program, the U.S. established maritime warning zones in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, and northern Arabian Sea. This effectively designated the area as off-limits to ships, prompting shipping companies to halt or reroute operations across the Middle East. Tensions further escalated as Yemen's Houthi armed group hinted at resuming attacks in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (Red Sea). Consequently, CMA CGM immediately evacuated 14 vessels within the Gulf and 7 scheduled to enter, completely halting Red Sea route operations and switching to a southern Africa detour. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd also reverted some Suez Canal and Red Sea services to the Cape route. Experts assess this crisis has effectively dashed hopes for normalizing Red Sea routes by 2026, predicting war risk and marine insurance premiums will surge 25-50% in the short term. They also raise the possibility of insurance carriers refusing to underwrite cargoes related to the US and Israel. In contrast, some predict partial resumption of Gulf operations within days due to U.S. military superiority at sea and in the air. Attention now focuses on how long the Red Sea route disruption will last and its impact on future SC contract negotiations with major shippers.

• Winter ends, signaling truck market recovery... Executives express ‘positive’ outlook

  JOC reports that executives at major U.S. trucking companies are expressing optimistic outlooks, citing early signs that the three-year freight market downturn is ending. Supporting this, the average freight rate (excluding fuel) for the top 50 U.S. routes, as compiled by DAT Freight and Analytics, shows an 18-20% year-over-year increase to approximately $2.30 per mile (See graph below). These rates have held steady even after winter storms, suggesting “this isn't just a temporary factor.” Adam Miller, CEO of major trucking firm Knight-Swift, likened the situation to a Goldilocks scenario: inflation is stable, demand is quiet but showing signs of recovery, and supply (drivers) is shrinking. If high rates persist even after the winter storm's full impact fades, it could signal the end of the trucking market downturn. In this case, attempts to raise contract rates for shippers could occur in the first half of 2026. However, this shift is primarily driven by ‘supply contraction’ rather than demand. Specifically, the U.S. government's restrictions on issuing commercial driver's licenses to non-resident foreigners and stricter English proficiency requirements for drivers are forcing some drivers out of the market. Combined with recent signs of demand rebounding, the industry is shifting to optimism.

• Truck and Bus Driver License Exams to Be Conducted in English Only Starting the 20th

  Federal Transportation Minister Sean Duffy announced on the 20th that “all applicants for commercial driver's licenses, including trucks and buses, must now take the test in English only.” He emphasized that the purpose of this measure is to ensure drivers possess sufficient English proficiency to understand road signs and communicate with law enforcement agencies, making mandatory English testing necessary. Until now, many states offered the CDL (Commercial Driver's License) written test in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Korean, with only certain licenses like hazardous materials transport requiring English only. While most opinions suggest this measure will worsen the driver shortage, some predict that restricting CDL issuance will, in the medium to long term, spur autonomous driving to fill the driver gap.

• WiseTech Plans 30% Workforce Reduction Through AI Technology Adoption

  Australian logistics software company WiseTech Global, which holds approximately 70% of the global forwarding, customs clearance, and transportation management platform market, announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 30%—equivalent to 2,000 employees—over the next two years during its earnings call on the 25th, causing significant industry shockwaves.  WiseTech cited internal and external AI advancements as the reason for the cuts, stating they will significantly enhance product development and customer response efficiency. This is interpreted as a signal that AI is fundamentally restructuring the workforce in the software industry, causing considerable concern. The industry is on high alert, anticipating the impact may extend beyond just the software sector.

• FedEx Files Lawsuit Against U.S. Government for Tariff Refund

  FedEx, one of the largest corporations in the U.S., has filed a lawsuit in the Court of International Trade (CIT) against the U.S. government, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, seeking a full refund of tariffs. FedEx emphasized in its complaint that it suffered damages due to illegal tariffs and that the government has yet to establish a refund process. Major companies that have filed refund lawsuits so far include Costco, Revlon Consumer Products, Bumble Bee Foods, and Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing. Following FedEx's lawsuit, other importers are highly likely to file lawsuits en masse. The National Retail Federation (NRF) is also urging the court to establish a clear and swift refund process.