US Logistics Update [Nov 22, 2025]-English

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that September nonfarm payroll employment surged by 119,000, more than double the market forecast of 51,000, despite the delayed release due to the federal government shutdown. However, the unemployment rate stood at 4.4%, higher than the market forecast of 4.3%, marking the highest level in three years since October 2021 during the pandemic period. Previous reports showed weak employment due to “low layoffs and low hiring,” but concerns about job stability have grown since then due to a series of layoff announcements. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on the 21st that it would cancel the release of the October Consumer Price Index report due to the government shutdown preventing the collection of price-related survey data. The November price index is now scheduled for release on December 18. Consequently, the Federal Reserve (Fed), which will decide its benchmark interest rate at its monetary policy meeting on December 9-10, will be unable to reference the latest consumer price data. With unemployment rising, all eyes are on what decision the Fed will make without this key inflation indicator.

• Bloomberg reports that high tariffs and weakened cooperation are fraying U.S. ties with Asia. President Trump's attempts at American hegemony risk isolating the U.S. from an Asia that sees the 2000s as its own “Asian Century.” U.S.-Asia trade relations face the highest tariffs since 1940, while people-to-people exchanges are also declining. U.S. tariff revenue, which accounted for just 2% of GDP last year, has surged to 16% this year due to President Trump's tariffs, reaching its highest level since 1930. Bloomberg anticipates three future scenarios: détente with China, full-scale opposition to China, or a U.S.-centric North American protectionist policy.

• GE Appliance has signed a $150 million investment agreement with 22 U.S. parts suppliers to enable domestic production of washers and dryers, the WSJ reported, drawing industry attention. This investment is part of GE Appliance's $3 billion project to expand U.S. factories and reshoring production from China and Mexico back to the U.S. Thanks to this investment, suppliers like Jones Plastic and RCM Industries plan to invest in new equipment purchases and workforce expansion. As domestic production efforts increase, sourcing parts from overseas is expected to decrease significantly.

• North American Vessel Dwell Times                 

• Fire on large container ship at Port of LA… 4 out of 7 terminals suspended operations

  A fire broke out on the large container ship ‘One Henry Hudson’ while it was docked at the Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port. Operations at 4 of the port's 7 terminals have been suspended. The fire started below the main deck and spread to other levels; an explosion was also reported on the middle deck. LA fire authorities have deployed over 100 firefighters to battle the blaze, and smoke has forced the closure of State Route 47. The Port of LA, along with the nearby Port of Long Beach, is the largest port in the US by container volume and a major gateway for cargo from Asia. It remains to be seen whether this container ship fire will lead to logistical disruptions at western ports.

• EU Announces Phase-Out of Duty Exemptions for Low-Cost E-Commerce Goods... Air Cargo Market Restructuring Inevitable

  The European Union (EU) announced plans to phase out tariff exemptions on low-cost goods under €150 imported from outside the EU, such as China. It will introduce a transitional system in 2026 and fully implement the changes in 2028. The EU is also pursuing a plan to impose a €2 processing fee on low-cost parcels shipped directly from outside the EU and a €0.50 fee on parcels transiting through EU warehouses. The EU plans to establish a ‘Customs Data Hub’ by 2028, designating multiple e-commerce companies as ‘deemed importers’ and shifting the responsibility for collecting customs duties, VAT, and fulfilling various customs clearance and compliance obligations to these companies. Additionally, the ‘Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS)’ system, currently only applicable to goods valued at €150 or less, will be expanded to cover all price ranges, shifting to a system where VAT is collected at the point of sale. Consequently, the costs and system burdens for EU-bound sales by non-EU e-commerce brands and platforms are expected to rise significantly. This follows the US's official abolition of the ‘de minimis’ tariff exemption for low-value imports a few months ago, signaling that the global e-commerce environment is rapidly entering a phase of heightened regulation. However, some analyses suggest the de minimis abolition won't completely ‘block’ e-commerce flows. As supply chain structures change, e-commerce volumes will merely shift routes and methods, with demand itself unlikely to decrease significantly. Experts unanimously forecast that despite EU and US customs regulation tightening, growing e-commerce demand remains a global trend. However, just as U.S. regulations drove increased demand and supply for European-bound e-commerce, European regulations are expected to bring major changes to the air cargo market.