FedEx & Amazon, UPS Surcharges, and More Tariff-related Impacts: This Week in Shipping
You don’t need another reminder that the rules of global shipping are changing—again. You’re living it.
One day you're navigating a new carrier surcharge to Canada, the next you're watching peak season creep earlier because tariffs might spike (again) in August. Contracts shift. Costs climb. And your inbox is full of updates that barely scratch the surface of what you actually need to know to make smart, fast decisions.
That’s where we come in. We’ve sorted through the noise and pulled out the five headlines that truly matter this week—because your time is better spent planning your next move, not decoding the latest disruption.
1. FedEx Reunites with Amazon for Large-Package Delivery
After a six-year break, FedEx and Amazon have struck a new deal to handle large residential deliveries. This comes as UPS moves to scale back Amazon volume, citing profitability issues. The renewed partnership leverages FedEx’s optimized network, giving Amazon a cost-effective way to handle oversized items while underscoring shifting alliances in the last-mile landscape.
[TL;DR] Key Takeaway:
FedEx is back in Amazon’s delivery mix, changing the dynamics for large-format e-commerce shipping and competitive parcel capacity.
2. Trans-Pacific Rates Soar Ahead of Tariff Deadline
Spot rates from Asia to the U.S. West Coast surged by 8% in one week and could rise up to 50% soon. Retailers are rushing to bring in goods before the U.S.-China tariff pause expires in August. The resulting container backlog is pulling peak season demand forward, stressing an already tight market.
[TL;DR] Key Takeaway:
Shippers face a compressed timeline and rising costs as they race the clock before tariffs return, forcing earlier peak season strategies.
3. UPS Surcharge Looms Amid Canada Post Strike Threat
UPS announced a new U.S.-to-Canada surcharge ahead of a possible Canada Post strike on May 22. Rates vary by service and are designed to manage rising demand if shippers are forced to shift volumes quickly. The move signals tighter capacity and added costs for cross-border shippers navigating uncertain labor conditions.
[TL;DR] Key Takeaway:
Expect higher costs and limited alternatives for U.S.-to-Canada shipments, especially if Canada Post operations stall.
4. U.S. House Eyes Universal Ban on De Minimis Imports
Lawmakers are debating a ban on the de minimis exemption, which currently allows duty-free imports under $800. While tariffs on low-value parcels from China have been temporarily eased, critics argue the loophole aids unregulated imports and hurts U.S. businesses. A ban could reshape e-commerce flows and increase compliance headaches for retailers.
[TL;DR] Key Takeaway:
De minimis changes could upend small-parcel cross-border logistics, especially for e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu.
5. Retailers Sound the Alarm on Inventory Challenges
With tariffs in flux and a wave of early imports, U.S. retailers are facing mounting inventory pressure. Overstocking leads to markdowns and cash flow problems; understocking means lost sales. Forecasting has become a high-stakes gamble—and shippers are urgently seeking tools to stay agile in a volatile trade environment.
[TL;DR] Key Takeaway:
Volatile tariffs are warping demand cycles, forcing retailers to rethink inventory strategies and logistics planning tools.
Ship Smart. Spend Less.
When the landscape keeps shifting, decisions can’t wait for end-of-month reports or lagging audits. That’s why Intelligent Audit gives shippers real-time access to the data and insights they need to respond faster, smarter, and with confidence. Whether you’re navigating sudden rate hikes, modeling the impact of new tariffs, or identifying risks buried deep in your carrier invoices, our platform uncovers inefficiencies, flags anomalies, and turns complex shipping data into actionable intelligence—so you can stay ahead of what’s next, not just catch up to what already happened.
Get in touch with Intelligent Audit to start saving.
