The US decision to implement a new 10% global tariff will create uncertainty and supply chain disruption, according to the Airforwarders Association (AfA).
Last week US president Donald Trump announced that the country would bring in a temporary 10% global tariff after a Supreme Court ruling struck down the administration’s previous tariff regime.
The AfA said it is “disappointed” by the administration’s decision to impose the import surcharge and urged policymakers to prioritise “stable, predictable trade policies that support US businesses”.
“Our members are already managing fluctuating volumes, pricing pressures, and complex compliance requirements, and the introduction of a sweeping tariff measure without clear guidance creates further operational disruption, which will ripple across the supply chain,” the AfA said.
“Air cargo and logistics businesses plan months in advance, commit capacity based on forecast demand, and operate on tight margins, and abrupt policy interventions undermine long term planning and investment.
“At a time of growing geopolitical instability, including the continued military build-up in the Middle East, policy uncertainty at home only heightens risk for American importers, exporters, and the logistics providers that support them.”
The AfA urged the administration and congress to prioritise consistent, transparent trade frameworks that strengthen US economic competitiveness, support growth, and provide businesses with the certainty they need to operate effectively.
The new tariffs are being temporarily applied for 150 days under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act.
This act allows the US to apply tariffs where there are fundamental international payment problems, such as payment deficits or dollar depreciation.
Trump has said that the White House is working to increase the tariffs to 15%.
The suspension of the de minimis exemption will continue, according to the executive order.
Last year, air cargo benefited from the US tariff strategy as shippers looked to move cargo to market quickly to sidestep uncertainty around future levies.
The AfA had earlier welcomed the Supreme Court ruling that had struck down previous tariffs, saying it would bring a degree of clarity.
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