Maersk warns of shipping strains as Canada tariffs take effect

Maersk A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S issued its September 2026 North America market update on Wednesday, warning shippers that a new round of U.S.-Canada tariffs, tightening domestic freight conditions, and lingering disruptions from typhoons and European port strikes are converging during the busiest stretch of the peak shipping season.

Tariff Escalation Hits Cross-Border Trade

The update lands days after Canada's retaliatory tariffs on U.S.-origin goods took effect on September 8, covering duties of 15%, 25%, and 50% across more than 700 product categories including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, and electronics. Ottawa described the action as a "dollar for dollar" response to U.S. Section 338 tariffs of 50% that hit a broad range of Canadian goods on August 22, after trade talks between Washington and Ottawa collapsed.aljazeera+3

In its update, Maersk advised importers in both countries to confirm HTS classifications and origin documentation immediately, noting that even goods qualifying under the USMCA are not fully insulated because tariffs can apply to non-U.S. content within otherwise qualifying products. The carrier said goods already in transit around September 8 may receive transitional treatment.maersk

Peak Season Squeezes Landside Capacity

Beyond trade policy, Maersk flagged mounting pressure across the U.S. drayage market. Import frontloading, higher diesel costs, chassis shortages, and tighter driver-qualification enforcement are combining to strain trucking capacity at key gateways including New York/New Jersey, Southern California, and Florida. The company urged shippers to prioritize dependable carrier relationships over lowest-cost options and to shift suitable long-haul freight to intermodal rail.maersk

Truckload rates have continued climbing despite a summer decline in domestic volumes, a dynamic Maersk attributed to capacity constraints rather than demand. The carrier said it does not expect a reversal, projecting tighter capacity and steady pricing pressure through the rest of 2026 and into 2027.maersk

Suez Return and European Port Recovery

Separately, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd confirmed that their AE19 and AE15 services are now transiting the Suez Canal rather than routing around the Cape of Good Hope, following a security assessment of the Red Sea corridor. Maersk described the shift as "a measured step towards a gradual return" but cautioned that the situation remains unpredictable and does not represent a wider network change.dataportuaria+2

In northern Europe, ports are still absorbing the aftereffects of a 48-hour warning strike at German terminals including Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven that ran from September 2 through September 4, called by the trade union ver.di amid an unresolved collective bargaining dispute. Maersk said connections through those ports were impacted and it would keep customers informed of schedule changes.mykn.kuehne-nagel+2