Freight Pulse: Hormuz Stays Dark, Transpac Holds Strong, and New Tariffs Bite

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed to normal commercial traffic. Iran is conditioning reopening on a US-led end to the war, removal of blockades, sanctions relief, and reparations: leaving carriers and shippers with no clear timetable for a return to normal.

Maersk and CMA CGM are gradually resuming selected Suez transits, but those moves do not restore Hormuz capacity. Carriers continue to manage risk through limited routing, schedule changes, and selective service decisions. Recent reporting confirms that any reopening may be gradual rather than a full operational reset.

Ocean markets are diverging. Asia–Europe rates are cooling as carriers blank sailings and adjust capacity. The Transpacific is more resilient: sustained peak-season demand is pushing US West Coast rates higher, while East Coast and Gulf routing remains exposed to congestion and longer transit decisions.

Regulatory pressure is also increasing. New Section 301 tariffs on covered goods from 60 countries are now active; properly USMCA-qualified goods remain exempt. Section 232 tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals are being enforced now, with broader application scheduled for September 29. On August 3, UFLPA restrictions covering 43 newly listed companies took effect, placing additional documentation demands on importers.

The Jones Act waiver has been extended for 90 days, but foreign-vessel movements now require case-by-case review and proof that US vessel capacity is unavailable. Eligible commodities are restricted, including fuel and fertilizer. Separately, an appeals court upheld the FMC’s unreasonable-refusal-to-deal rule, allowing extreme pricing or a lack of good-faith negotiation to support enforcement claims.

Protect reliability with Lanta Logistics’ structured 3PL, fulfillment, and transportation services, built for visibility across every supply chain touchpoint.