--- title: "Freight Market Update: December 18, 2019" description: "USMCA is signed and the US relaxes fuel rules to ease IMO 2020 in the December 18, 2019 freight market update." language: en canonical: https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/logistics-updates/freight-market-update-december-18-2019/ lifecycle: live --- # Freight Market Update: December 18, 2019 ## Ocean Freight Market Update ## Ocean Market Update December 18, 2019 (2) ## Air Freight Market Update ## Freight Market News **USMCA Agreed and Signed** The United States, Mexico, and Canada signed the rewrite of the NAFTA replacement, which will come into force if all three legislatures pass it. Despite Senate Republicans complaining they had been excluded from the renegotiation, the Trump administration sent implementing legislation to Congress and both houses seem likely to pass the deal. **Looser US Fuel Rules Aim to Ease IMO 2020** The @EPA has cleared #IMO2020 compliant fuel with a higher sulfur content of 0.5% to be sold for use outside the emissions control area, which limits sulfur content to 0.1%. [Freightwaves](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/epa-loosens-fuel-restrictions-in-u-s-ahead-of-imo-2020) reports the clearance allays alarm over higher prices or potential non-availability of cleaner fuel. Meanwhile, this week, **Flexport Chief Economist Dr. Phil Levy** noted the following economic highlights: **China Deal, Phase One, Take Two** 15% tariffs scheduled for the weekend were called off after the Trump Administration resolved the specifics of a [deal](https://flexport.gocleary.com/ahoy/messages/SkNtNQnV4Eg6DyLpj1H3H6o1kSFMpO3s/click?signature=794e2eed5af031a6ab89696cedb39a142dc67d26&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F2019-12-14%2Fphase-one-china-u-s-trade-deal-what-s-in-and-what-s-missing) with the PRC. - The 86-page agreement was not released; a signing was planned for January. - The US has committed to cut the 15% Sept. 1 tariffs (List 4a) to 7.5%, but leave in place 25% tariffs on [Lists 1-3](https://flexport.gocleary.com/ahoy/messages/SkNtNQnV4Eg6DyLpj1H3H6o1kSFMpO3s/click?signature=dece0d90017fa1fbaa47ae1424419b4a2987f23d&url=https%3A%2F%2Fustr.gov%2Fissue-areas%2Fenforcement%2Fsection-301-investigations%2Ftariff-actions), covering $250bn in trade. - China promises better IP protection and new purchases of U.S. ag and other goods. - Some [disagreement](https://flexport.gocleary.com/ahoy/messages/SkNtNQnV4Eg6DyLpj1H3H6o1kSFMpO3s/click?signature=1c3ee77d471ccb06eaa0a6306cea085e9c495bc4&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F2019-12-13%2Fdoubts-surface-on-50-billion-in-china-farm-buys-touted-by-trump) over details remained. A Phase Two seems unlikely soon. **Soft Prices and Sales** U.S. retail sales [rose](https://flexport.gocleary.com/ahoy/messages/SkNtNQnV4Eg6DyLpj1H3H6o1kSFMpO3s/click?signature=d5168aba1151e7c743719b4829f61468315a14f8&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketwatch.com%2Fstory%2Fretail-sales-fall-short-of-forecast-in-the-early-stages-of-the-holiday-season-a-poor-omen-2019-12-13) 0.2% in November, less than expected. Producer prices were [flat](https://flexport.gocleary.com/ahoy/messages/SkNtNQnV4Eg6DyLpj1H3H6o1kSFMpO3s/click?signature=734f25050793dcc7c205fe1bc1edd0532a2fcdc4&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-economy-inflation%2Fu-s-producer-prices-unchanged-underlying-inflation-soft-idUSKBN1YG1L0), vs. an expected rise. - The U.S. Federal Reserve [declined to change](https://flexport.gocleary.com/ahoy/messages/SkNtNQnV4Eg6DyLpj1H3H6o1kSFMpO3s/click?signature=90e5e5d8baf69103d380b7710bb67402f21b1ede&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Ffederal-reserve-decision-on-interest-rates-11576086024) interest rates, a policy that looks likely to continue well into 2020. - The European Central Bank [maintained](https://flexport.gocleary.com/ahoy/messages/SkNtNQnV4Eg6DyLpj1H3H6o1kSFMpO3s/click?signature=370b8e5064cf000243fe92e8e8649a7672477d1b&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2F2019%2F12%2F12%2Fecb-holds-rates-steady-at-lagardes-debut-policy-meeting.html) its negative rate. ## Customs and Trade Updates **Section 301 Updates** After progress on the Phase One trade deal with China, a [Presidential tweet](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1205509125788098560) and the [USTR website](https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2019/december/united-states-and-china-reach) both report that the 15% 4b tariffs scheduled to take effect last Sunday are suspended. Without specifying when, the President also said that list 4a would be reduced from 15% to 7.5%. Many believe this will take place in early January, when the Phase One Deal is expected to be signed. *New Exclusions Granted* - The USTR [granted exclusions](https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/%24200_Billion_Exclusions_Granted_December.pdf) to 35 specifically prepared product descriptions from list 3. The exclusions are retroactive to September 24th, 2018 and will be effective until August 7th, 2020. The USTR also [granted exclusions](https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/%2434_Billion_Notice_of_Product_Exclusion_and_Amendments.pdf) for HTS 9030.90.4600 and 9030.10, which are for list 1. These will be retroactive from July 6th, 2018, and will remain in effect until October 1st, 2020. Changes were also made to the [second list](https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/%2416_Billion_Notice_of_Amendments.pdf). **Mandatory ACE filings for APHIS Products** We anticipate that the Federal Register Notice posted in January will lay out the new requirements for 2,052 specific HTS numbers that are subject to APHIS. Licenses and permits that importers currently get in paper form will need to be uploaded to ACE. To help importers and brokers understand the new process and 6 month implementation period, APHIS plans to host a series of webinars in February. For now, two CATAIR documents on these changes are [here](https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Nov/APHIS%20Supplemental%20Trade%20Guide%20-%20Appendix%20APH-A%20%28ver.%201.0%29.pdf) and [here](https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Nov/APHIS%20%28CORE%29%20ACE%20PGA%20Message%20Set%20Implementation%20Guide%20%28Master%20Document%20ver%204.9%29%20%281%29.pdf). **CBP Trade Remedy Email** After confusion surrounding the exclusions to 301, 232, & 201 duties, CBP shared a general email address for questions from the trade community ([traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov](mailto:traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov)). The releveant sections of the [USTR](https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforcement/section-301-investigations), [CBP](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/remedies), & [DOC](https://www.commerce.gov/page/section-232-investigations) websites have also been revamped. ****For a roundup of tariff-related news, visit **[Tariff Insider](https://www.tariffinsider.com/) --- *This is a markdown version of [https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/logistics-updates/freight-market-update-december-18-2019/](https://www.flex.thisisbrew.com/logistics-updates/freight-market-update-december-18-2019/) for AI/LLM consumption.*