“Freeze tariffs, not trade,” calls Airforwarders Association’s Brandon Fried

Brandon Fried, Executive Director of theAirforwarders Association (AfA) called upon the U.S. Government to freeze tariffs, not trade, as the Trump administration’s trade negotiations continue, while speaking at this year’s CNS Partnership Conference in Miami.

“We understand that these tariffs were initially set to balance the trade deficit of foreign goods entering the U.S., and that tariffs are a commonplace mechanism of international trade,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director, the Airforwarders Association.

“The instability caused, however, by mass tariff implementation, negotiation, and bilateral agreements, as well as inevitable disputes over high rates, has hit our industry, and we need to freeze tariffs, not our ability to trade.

“The expertise of our forwarders is being put to the test, as we are having to find solutions that can be obsolete in a matter of days or weeks.”

Since the beginning of 2025, the U.S. Government has announced wide ranging tariffs on almost all nations, starting with a 25 percent tariff on almost all Mexican and Canadian goods in February this year.

“We need to invest in our infrastructure and security,” continued Fried.

“Our ability to trade is crucial in today’s geopolitical landscape, and the U.S. transportation and logistics sector has always been a proud partner of U.S. industry, delivering our import and export capabilities globally.

“We are ready to work with the Trump administration to support this and most importantly to make sure the U.S. is open for business, both domestically and internationally.”

Fried addressed attendees at this year’s CNS Partnership Conference in Miami, Florida, as leading industry representatives met to discuss the latest industry issues and trends.