Supply chain

This past holiday season, Chicago Customs and Border Protection officers at the O’Hare International Mail Facility seized more than 50 counterfeit electric and acoustic guitars, in addition to other types of fake merchandise.

UPS today said it will withdraw its $6.9 billion offer to acquire Dutch shipping company TNT Express, after competition authorities at the European Commission informed UPS that it would block the arrangement.

The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association today affirmed it is compliant with U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for the importation of fresh fruit into the U.S., in response to the detection of a fruit fly focal point in Cerro Yungay, Chile...

The U.S. is requesting consultations with Indonesia under the dispute settlement provisions of the World Trade Organization regarding trade-restrictive measures applied to horticultural products, animals and animal products...

Express transportation company FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx, has implemented new rates for customers in the Asia-Pacific using FedEx International Priority and FedEx International Economy services.

Transportation and supply chain management company MIQ Logistics, based in Overland Park, Kan., has hired Barry Solomon to be part of the sales team as manager of business development.

The Algerian government has extended the zero value added tax and custom tax on all feed imports, including corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles and corn gluten feed until August 2013, according to the U.S. Grains Council.

German carrier Hapag-Lloyd will increase rates on its trade between North Europe, including the U.K., and West Africa, effective Feb. 1.

The Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy institute, today ranked Hong Kong as the freest economy in the world for the 19th consecutive year.

Freight forwarder and logistics management company China Logistics Group has announced its outlook for logistics operations in China in 2013 is improving.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in Ohio, the grantee of Foreign Trade Zone 8 since 1971, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign-Trade Zone Board for the reorganization and expansion of its FTZ.

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, which represents toll facility owners and operators and the businesses that serve them, today launched a 2013 public awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of tolling.

After a seesaw year in which freight rates bounded up and down like a yo-yo, shippers and carriers alike are looking for stability and predictability in their businesses.

Puteaux, France-based supply chain management company SDV, a subsidiary of the Bollore Group, has acquired a majority stake in Safcomar Overseas, a Swiss-based logistics provider, and renamed it SDV Suisse.

A Chinese national, Xiang Li, 36, of Chengdu, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and wire fraud, after operating a Web site used to distribute more than $100 million worth of pirated software.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wasn’t on the list of Cabinet officials that a White House official said would hang around for President Obama’s second term, suggesting someone else might fill the spot held by the Illinois Republican, according to reports.

Major Japanese international freight forwarder Kintetsu World Express Inc. said that it has established a subsidiary in Mexico to cope with anticipated growth in demand for transportation services there.

San Mateo, Calif.-based Menlo Worldwide Logistics, a subsidiary of Con-way, today opened a new warehousing and retail distribution management center in Singapore.

Transportation management and logistics technology company Transplace today promoted Frank McGuigan to executive vice president of operations.

Houston-based Port Logistics Group has acquired Pacific Distribution Services, a regional warehousing and transportation provider serving the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

Despite carriers’ attempts to pull capacity from east-west trade routes, weak cargo volumes are limiting their to hike freight rates for any sustainable period.

Switzerland-based logistics company Kuehne + Nagel has signed a contract with AGCO, a Duluth, Ga.-based agricultural equipment manufacturer, to manage its aftermarket parts distribution center in Johannesburg.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency have increased and harmonized the value thresholds for expedited customs clearance to $2,500, under the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border Action Plan.

Global Partners, a Waltham petroleum products company, has signed a five-year contract with Phillips 66, a Houston-based energy company, whereby Global will use its rail network’s loading facilities and offloading terminals...

Maersk Line will implement a general rate increase on its New Zealand to Australia trade lane, effective Feb. 1.

Third-party logistics provider BNSF Logistics has acquired Albacor Shipping, a Toronto-based global project and general cargo provider with locations across North America, Europe and Russia.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, today reported that the volume of retail trade in November 2012 rose 0.2 percent compared to October 2012 in the EU’s 27 member states.

The European Commission today adopted a Communication on Customs Risk Management and the Security of the Supply Chain...