Logistics eNews: Airfreight Cargo Backlogs, Port of Vancouver Just-in-Time, USTR Port Fee

Thursday October 30, 2025

US airfreight forwarders warn of cargo backlogs as government shutdown continues

The US Airforwarders Association (AfA) has expressed its disappointment at the continuing Federal Government shutdown, warning it could create backlogs and disrupt supply chains.

Last week, congress was unable to come to an agreement to end the shutdown, meaning that millions of workers would not have been paid.



There are concerns that absence rates could rise if essential workers across the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) do not start getting paid soon.

Port of Vancouver rolls out ‘just-in-time’ ship arrivals

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has introduced a formal process to enable cargo ships to arrive at the Port of Vancouver "just-in-time," marking a milestone in its strategy to improve efficiency and predictability of vessel movement.



Maritime Industry Still Seeks Answers Over USTR Port Fee Rollout

In late-June, the World Shipping Council warned that there were "major problems" with several key aspects of planned fees against Chinese-owned and operated vessels calling U.S. ports. Although the fees have now been in effect since October 14, many of those problems flagged by the WSC remain, with owners and operators continuing to press the Trump administration for much-needed answers.