Supply Chain Managers May Obtain Trade Forecasts at Upcoming Forums

As supply chain managers have become painfully aware, keeping on top of the shifting trade agreement banter and subsequent compliance necessities has added a new layer of complexity to their operations.

Fortunately, a full season of trade summits, seminars, and conferences are being staged to provide advice on strategic direction in the coming year.

“Leaders of the world's central banks warned that the escalating trade tensions could ricochet through financial markets and hurt the world economy,” warns FTR analyst Steve Graham. “The rising tensions have made it more difficult to start moving away from the easy money policies introduced at the beginning of the Great Recession.”

Avery Vise, vice president of trucking for FTR, agrees, telling SCMR in an interview that among the multiple impacts anticipated by trade policies might include inflation.

“And if that happens it will certainly be felt in the supply chain sector, as consumer demand falters and less freight moves on our roads and railways.”

FTR is holding their 14th annual Transportation Conference on Sept 11-13, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza in Indianapolis, IN.

“Tariffs are taxes that will harm U.S. businesses, farmers, workers and consumers,” says Retail Federation president and CEO, Matthew Shay. “In addition, acting unilaterally makes American companies targets of retaliation that will result in loss of market share to our trading partners – a disproportionate economic harm.”

Shay will be expanding on that position as keynote speaker at the Intermodal Expo 2018 in Long Beach, CA September 16-18.

And finally, U.S. shippers still in the dark about the implications of Brexit, can listen to René Buck, Chief Executive Officer, BCI Global, who will share his views at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) 2018 “Edge Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition in Nashville, Tenn. From September 30 through October 3.

“Brexit results in a customs border between the United Kingdom and European Union, which has been gone for decades,” says Buck. “What can you do as a shipper or logistics service provider to be ready for every scenario?”

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