Logistically Speaking is back for its third season!

In this this episode, Cameron and Scott examine the end of de minimis duty-free treatment that took effect August 29, 2025.

Their guest is Ryan Tanner, Senior Director of Compliance at Flexport. Ryan discusses the dramatic shift from the 2016 $800 threshold that processed over 1 billion packages annually to the current landscape requiring duties on all imports.

The conversation covers how businesses are adapting through hybrid models—combining formal entries, U.S. warehousing, and international postal services with new IEEPA-based flat rates. Ryan explains the third-party qualifier system enabling postal imports, the compliance challenges of transitioning from Type 86 entries, and the uncertain future pending Supreme Court review of IEEPA tariff authority.

With tariff volatility driving demand for bonded warehousing and FTZ space, importers face critical decisions about supply chain strategy as the industry navigates this regulatory transformation.

Links:

White House Executive Order on De Minimis

CBP CSMS Guidance Message on De Minimis

Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk

In this episode of Logistically Speaking, Scott Case and Cameron Roberts sit down with Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association, at AirCargo 2025 in Dallas. Brandon shares his insights on the current state of the air cargo industry, critical challenges facing forwarders, and emerging opportunities in a changing global landscape.

This episode was recorded on Sunday, March 2nd and at the conference, the imposition of Canadian, Mexican and Chinese tariffs were discussed, came into existence and then in the case of Canada and Mexico, were partially removed two days later on USMCA-qualifying goods.

Key Topics:

• The evolution of the air cargo industry and the shift to multimodal transportation
• Impact of potential tariffs on trade with China, Mexico, and Canada
• Changes to de minimis regulations and their effect on e-commerce
• Air cargo security developments since 9/11
• Infrastructure challenges at U.S. airports and the AfA/NCBFAA white paper initiative
• Future of air cargo including autonomous aircraft and the need for freighter capacity

About Brandon Fried: Brandon Fried was appointed Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association in November 2005. He began his career as a sales representative in Los Angeles before moving to Washington DC, where he owned and operated the Washington office of a global freight forwarder specializing in time-definite air cargo transportation. Brandon joined the Air Forwarders Association in 2000 and was elected Chairperson in 2001, serving for two consecutive terms. He has served on the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, COAC, the CNS Advisory Board, and numerous other industry associations. Brandon brings decades of hands-on experience in the forwarding industry and continues to be a leading voice for air cargo interests in Washington.

In this episode of Logistically Speaking, hosts Scott Case and Cameron Roberts welcome Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, to discuss:

• The upcoming TPM (Trans-Pacific Maritime) Conference and its significance for the port industry

• Long Beach's initiatives in sustainable cargo movement and zero-emission technologies

• Adapting to larger vessel sizes and improving port infrastructure

• The impact of tariffs and changing trade patterns on port operations

• Efforts to increase exports and address trade imbalances

• The role of foreign trade zones in mitigating tariff impacts

• Updates on detention and demurrage issues following OSRA 2022

• Challenges and opportunities in reshoring manufacturing

Mario Cordero's Bio:

Mario Cordero is the Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Long Beach, a position he has held since 2017. His career in Long Beach began as a member, vice president, and president of the Long Beach Board of Harbors Commission.

In 2011, President Obama appointed Cordero as a Democratic commissioner at the Federal Maritime Commission, where he served until 2017, including as the agency's chairman from 2013 onwards. Cordero's leadership has been instrumental in the Port of Long Beach's status as part of the largest container trade gateway in the United States, handling trade valued at $200 billion annually and supporting 2.6 million jobs across the nation.

Under his guidance, the port has made significant strides in environmental initiatives, achieving remarkable reductions in emissions and implementing innovative green energy projects.