In 2026, freight buyers seem to be balancing more than pricing and lead times. Tariffs, sanctions, and new trade restrictions are forcing companies to rethink how and where they move goods. For example, rerouting to avoid politically sensitive ports or navigating longer inland legs due to chokepoints like the Panama Canal have become real planning concerns. In the latest Freight Buyers’ Club podcast, James Hookham, Director of the Global Shippers Forum, and Robbert van Trooijen, former Maersk executive and founder of Inception Partners, unpack how political alignment is reshaping freight strategy and what shippers need to prepare for in the months ahead.