The U.S.-China trade war and ongoing disruption from the novel coronavirus pandemic present significant challenges to shipping, freight forwarding, and the apparel industry overall. Experts from across the sector weigh in on these challenges and potential solutions.

Top apparel industry executives share their critical insights on what they’ve been experiencing during the ever-evolving COVID-19 crisis, and its impact on shipping and logistics.

Despite the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and devastating economic fallout, international trade will eventually bounce back, with alternative countries of production and free trade agreements contributing to optimism for the apparel industry.

The apparel industry continues to experience production delays, blank sailings, and transportation bottlenecks due to current global health and economic crises.

A freight forwarder can help shippers remedy the current economic downturn through creative contingency planning, supply chain transitions, and cultivating relationships with alternative production nations.

It’s important to evaluate capacity, infrastructure, production costs, competitive ready-made garment landscape, and other challenges when shifting your supply chain to Bangladesh.

Ocean carrier consolidation is leading to increased costs for shippers to transport goods, a burden overcome by working with a freight forwarder well versed in carrier rate negotiations, transportation audits, and tariffs, such as CAF Worldwide.

It’s important to evaluate production logistics, costs, infrastructure, labor force capabilities, points of entry and other challenges when considering shifting your supply chain to Vietnam.

The world has adjusted to the new normal of economic policies as driven by the United States-China trade war.