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Baltimore Bridge Collapse Halts Traffic

In the early hours of a brisk March 26th morning, tragedy struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, as a Maersk-operated 2M Alliance container vessel, the Dali, collided with a support pylon, causing the bridge’s collapse and plunging at least 20 individuals into the Patapsco River.

The incident, described as a “mass-casualty incident” by authorities, sent shockwaves through the maritime industry and raised significant concerns about the safety and efficiency of global trade routes. From what we can initially gather, the Dali sent a mayday call, allowing authorities to stop bridge traffic and likely saving dozens, if not hundreds, of lives. 

Agricultural Marketing Services National Organics Program Info

On March 19^th, 2024, the Agriculture Marketing Services (AMS) National Organics Program (NOP) became mandatory. For the importation of products indicating organic, the importer must have a copy of the certified organic import certificate issued to the exporter/manufacturer. 

The entities that must be certified based on their handling of the organic products:

1.   U.S. Importers (organic certification must be listed on the NOP import certificate.)

2.   Foreign Exporters

3.   Processors of an organic product

4.   Operations that package the product

5.   Warehouses that store bulk or unpackaged organic products

6.   Others who “handle” the organic products, such as food brokers or sellers

US and China Trade Balanced Precariously

The recent downturn in trade between the United States and China, a 17% drop last year, may seem alarming at first glance. However, this shift could signal a strategic diversification of supply chains, potentially benefiting global trade dynamics. Such a trend is not merely a byproduct of the ongoing trade tensions but a necessary evolution towards a more resilient and flexible global trade ecosystem.