Tariffs and backhaul rates dominate global shipping news again this week as the ripple effects of the EU-US trade deal and continued uncertainty in US-China negotiations drive new challenges in the container shipping market. Tariffs and backhaul rates may sound like niche topics, but in this episode of The Freight Debate, hosts Phil Hennessey and Emily Stausbøll, Senior Shipping Analyst at Xeneta, reveal why they’re at the center of every serious logistics discussion in 2025.

Phil and Emily break down the latest EU-US tariff announcements: a 15% tariff now replacing the 10% under the truce agreement. Emily explains why, even though it’s not the worst-case 30% or 50% floated earlier, this development is far from “good news.” Instead, it's the beginning of a new normal in transatlantic trade where importers must decide how much of the added cost to absorb and how much to pass on to consumers.

They also analyze the ongoing US-China negotiations in Stockholm and explore the potential 90-day extension of tariff pauses. Drawing parallels with the 2019 trade war and its impact on bulk commodities like soybeans, Emily reflects on how energy and agricultural trade deals are often used as political tools that have deep implications for both front-haul and backhaul shipping markets.

The conversation then turns to backhaul rates—the unsung dynamics of container logistics. Emily shares fresh Xeneta data showing some backhaul trades hitting record low or even negative rate levels when accounting for terminal handling costs. She explains how container repositioning pressures, particularly between China and the US, continue to distort trade balance ratios and drop backhaul profitability for carriers.

Listeners will also learn how reefer container dynamics diverge from dry container trends, and why exporters must now re-evaluate their strategies in light of reciprocal tariffs. The team offers tactical advice for shippers on how to leverage backhaul volumes during procurement conversations, especially when negotiating front-haul contracts.

Whether you're managing a supply chain or just curious about how tariffs affect your Amazon order, this episode gives you expert insights you won’t get in the headlines. Phil and Emily also plug Xeneta’s freight rate intelligence platform and explain how customers can use real-time visibility across trade lanes to challenge market assumptions and make smarter shipping decisions.

Tune in as we tie together tariffs, trade wars, and transatlantic trends in one of the most practical and relevant episodes of The Freight Debate yet.

Learn more at: https://www.xeneta.com/