AfA calls for caution with tariffs impacting U.S. businesses

Airforwarders Association (AfA) has called for caution with tariffs at a meeting of its members at its annual conference, AirCargo 2025, amidst the wave of unprecedented U.S. tariff announcements towards Canada, Mexico and China.

A flurry of proposed tariffs has hit the air logistics community, with fears mounting that this may cause problems for U.S. businesses while the logistics sector adapts to the new international trade landscape.

“We understand the political and economic reasoning behind the tariffs, but there must be stability to allow the logistics sector to plan and support U.S. businesses,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association.

“Overnight changes, as in the case of the proposed 25 percent Colombian tariff, are damaging to the supply chain.

“If reciprocal tariffs are put in place just as quickly, then a bilateral agreement may be harder to negotiate, and we risk placing ourselves in a position of import/export uncertainty.

A survey conducted during the meeting revealed that 62 percent of AfA members are highly concerned about how the new wave of tariffs will affect their business operations.

"This could be trouble for the U.S. economy, for the American consumer, and for air freight forwarders’ businesses,” said Fried.

The conference also featured a panel discussion on changes to air cargo policy under the new Trump administration, where tariffs dominated the conversation, with multiple panelists arguing that the tariffs are punitive in nature and will likely trigger retaliatory measures from trading partners.

The Airforwarders Association have represented the North American logistics and supply chain industry in the U.S. since 1991.