In early April 2025, the stakes got even higher. President Donald Trump, newly returned to office, proposed a sweeping 10% tariff on nearly all imported goods, set to take effect later this year. A move that sent shockwaves through global markets and left logistics professionals in South Florida scrambling to understand what these aggressive tariffs would mean for the region’s trade lifelines. The tariffs, which apply broadly rather than targeting specific industries or countries, have been widely criticized as they could trigger a trade war, distort or even upend supply chains, and raise prices for consumers.
Trade attorney Deborah Stern emphasized the importance of preparedness: “We’re seeing clients hit with multiple overlapping tariffs – on steel, aluminum, and Chinese-origin products. Many are now rethinking sourcing and product classification.”
The landscape has become more complex, especially as companies must balance sourcing decisions with sudden shifts in tariff policy – for example, Mr. Trump’s 90-day tariff pause announced on April 9. “Some weren’t even taking USMCA exemptions because the tariff was already zero,” Stern said. “Now, they’re scrambling to get the paperwork done.”
Additionally concerning is the proposed $1.5 million fee on vessels built in China, which would raise costs dramatically for trade with the Caribbean and Central America, two of South Florida’s most critical markets. “During the pandemic, container rates from China spiked to $20,000, and clients still paid. They need the product. But every policy shift creates uncertainty, and that affects everyone along the chain,” says Chip Withers, president of logistics company Withers Worldwide. But while many regions would buckle under such pressures, South Florida adapts. Legal experts, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and consultants are working closely together to reroute cargo, adjust classification codes, and identify trade benefits. Companies are also leveraging Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs), which can defer or reduce duties; South Florida leads the nation in FTZ activations.
What sets South Florida apart is not just infrastructure, workforce, or legal know-how – but how these elements are integrated. The region functions as a living supply chain organism. Ports feed into rail. Rail feeds into warehouses. Airports connect to cold storage. Universities feed talent directly into freight and compliance firms. “Our ports are doing fabulously,” adds Michelle Fajardo of Florida Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association. “There’s a close relationship between local businesses, regulatory agencies, and port operators. That collaboration is what keeps the cargo moving.” She praised PortMiami, Port Everglades, and the surrounding logistics infrastructure for their ability to prevent major disruptions, even during national crises like the pandemic: “The savviness of our logistics industry here is unmatched.”
A critical piece of that integration is Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), which runs along the Atlantic coast and connects South Florida’s ports with major inland markets and distribution hubs. The FEC’s on-dock rail capabilities at PortMiami and Port Everglades allow containers to be loaded directly onto trains, reducing truck congestion and cutting down transit times to central Florida and beyond. Since its acquisition by Grupo México Transportes in 2017, FEC has continued investing in track modernization and intermodal connectivity.
Multimodal access is a key advantage. From South Florida, logistics firms can reach 70% of the U.S. population within two days and provide overnight service to major Latin American markets.
