Weekly Freight Report: June 5, 2026

This week the fight over $166 billion in tariff refunds escalated in court, a sweeping new executive order rewrote the rules for importing into the US, and the freight market pushed deeper into record territory.

At the same time, fresh forced-labor tariffs, a looming USMCA review, easing oil prices, and a stalled cargo theft bill are all reshaping your costs and your risk across global trade lanes.

Dive into the full update to see what is driving costs, tightening capacity, and reshaping the rules of trade.

Trump Administration Moves to Block $166B in Tariff Refunds

The Justice Department has filed notice that it will challenge the Court of International Trade’s order requiring the government to return the full $166 billion collected under tariffs the courts ruled illegal. A late motion on May 29 would force importers to file individual court actions to recover duties on finally liquidated entries, raising the prospect that only some companies are fully repaid. The DOJ also moved to shield CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott from testifying at a June 9 hearing on the refund process, then filed an emergency appeal on June 2. CBP is still working out how to repay roughly 330,000 importers across some 53 million entries through its new CAPE tool. For any importer owed money, how this plays out could decide whether you see a refund at all

Manufacturing Recovery Drives a Freight Upcycle

The freight downturn of 2023 and 2024 has clearly reversed, with May data showing industrial production now leading the cycle. The ISM Manufacturing PMI hit 54.0, its highest since May 2022, while the Logistics Managers’ Index reached 69.5 and transportation prices set a record at 96.0. Capacity is tightening at the same time: tender rejections climbed to nearly 17%, a cycle high, and flatbed spot rates reached $4.32 per mile with rejections above 38%. The strength is concentrated upstream at the producer level, exactly where durable freight demand originates. For shippers, the takeaway is straightforward: spot exposure is getting more expensive, and contract coverage is looking more attractive.

White House Issues Executive Order to Strengthen Customs Enforcement

President Trump signed an executive order on June 3 directing DHS and CBP to overhaul the rules for importers of record. The order raises bonding requirements, adds a minimum domestic asset standard, imposes a “good standing” requirement, and subjects foreign importers to tougher rules for formal entry while limiting informal entry to US importers. It also sets a penalty floor of at least 50% with no mitigation for repeat offenders and requires new disclosures on beneficial ownership, supply chains, forced labor, and sanctions. CBP has 180 days to rebuild its importer registry, introduce risk-based tiering, and tighten vetting of brokers and forwarders. The changes run through the federal rulemaking process, so there is time to adjust, but the compliance bar is rising for everyone who imports.

US Cites 60 Countries for Forced Labor, Imposes Tariffs Up to 12.5%

A Section 301 report from the US Trade Representative found 60 economies that failed to enforce bans on goods made with forced labor, which USTR says burdens American commerce. The administration plans 10% additional duties on countries that have taken some steps and 12.5% on the rest. USTR Jamieson Greer said trading partners must do more to ensure trade does not entrench forced labor globally. A hearing is scheduled for July 7. If your sourcing touches any of the cited countries, this is a new cost layer to map now.

Canada and Mexico Push to Renew USMCA for 16 Years

Canada formally urged the US and Mexico to renew the USMCA trade pact for another 16 years ahead of the scheduled July review, and Mexico has signaled it wants the same. Canada’s US trade minister Dominic LeBlanc sent the recommendation to USTR Greer and Mexico’s economy secretary on June 2. If the three countries do not reach consensus, the agreement stays in place for 10 more years with a series of annual reviews, and the US retains the option to withdraw with six months’ notice. The review lands July 1. For North American sourcing, the difference between a 16-year extension and annual reviews is the difference between long-term certainty and recurring uncertainty.

Oil Prices Fall on Iran War Developments

Brent crude traded 2.6% lower on June 4 at $95.18 per barrel as hopes rose that the US and Iran will agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers. A renewed Israel-Lebanon ceasefire and a US House vote on war powers added to the easing, though prices remain shaped by the three-month conflict. The move offers potential relief after diesel recently hit an all-time seasonal high. If the Hormuz outlook holds, fuel costs could ease, but the situation remains fluid.

Businesses Urge Senate to Pass Cargo Theft Bill

More than 200 companies and groups, including the American Trucking Associations, the US Chamber of Commerce, and major railroads, signed a letter pressing the Senate to pass HR 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. The bill would coordinate federal, state, local, and railroad law enforcement against organized theft networks and passed the House 348 to 60. The coalition notes that organized theft costs the trucking industry about $18 million a day, and railroads reported more than $200 million in losses in 2025. The bill now sits with the Senate Judiciary Committee. Tighter coordination could eventually mean fewer losses across high-risk lanes.

Weekly Freight Report: June 5, 2026

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