More Canadian companies are shifting their supply chains to run through the U.S. so their products can be exported from America rather than Canada, said John Boscariol, a trade lawyer with McCarthy Tétrault. Boscariol, speaking during a virtual event this week hosted by the American Bar Association, said U.S. export rules are more flexible than Canadian ones, and companies are finding it easier to sell certain items to U.S. consignees rather than ship directly from Canada to another foreign country.

National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons said that all of his 250 members want liberalized trade, and said he didn't understand why a simple issue like the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill has been hung up in partisan conflict for three years.

Consultants and associations that support international trade in Africa, Asia, Western Europe and the Western Hemisphere agreed that the shift in trade policy in the U.S. has trading partners questioning whether America will meet its commitments, or, in the words of the German Marshall Fund's Heather Conley, enter a "nationalistic economic crouch" that will be difficult to end. The panel spoke at a Washington International Trade Association event Feb. 12.

AIT Worldwide Logistics acquired the Netherlands-based Global Transport Solutions Group, a “prominent international freight forwarder specializing in time-critical marine spare parts logistics,” AIT said in a Feb. 1 news release. The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Human Rights Watch says that "some car manufacturers in China have succumbed to government pressure to apply weaker human rights and responsible sourcing standards at their Chinese joint ventures than in their global operations," and argues that car companies should disengage from all suppliers that source aluminum from Xinjiang, and should map aluminum supply chains back to the bauxite mines, whether for aluminum ingots or semi-fabricated aluminum.

Ending most favored nation status for Chinese imports -- as advocated for by the House Select Committee on China and some other China hawks in Congress -- would increase consumer prices for laptops and smart phones by more than $100, and cause purchases of those goods to fall sharply, according to a recent study commissioned by the Consumer Technology Association.

Private equity firm TPG acquired a majority stake in Sayari, it said in a news release Jan. 16. The agreement between the companies allows TPG “to make an up to $228 million strategic majority investment in Sayari,” the release said. “Sayari’s founders, employees, and existing investors will retain a significant stake in the company.” Sayari recently won government contracts for services to support anti-forced labor efforts by CBP and the Labor Department (see 2401050051).

U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark criticized the Biden administration for not only choosing to avoid tariff liberalizing trade negotiations, but also for walking away from long-time positions on digital trade provisions. Clark, who was speaking at a press conference after the Chamber's annual State of American Business event, declined to say whether a second Donald Trump administration or another term of Joe Biden would be worse on trade.

Alba Wheels Up International acquired customs broker John A. Steer, Alba said in a news release Jan. 9. The acquisition will “broaden the companies’ geographic reach” and fortify “Alba’s position as a dominant force in the customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and related industries with significant regulatory and logistics expertise across a handful of end markets,” the release said. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sayari, a risk compliance analysis firm, announced that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs has signed a contract to use Sayari Graph to uncover forced labor ties in supply chains.