This week's biggest stories are about consolidation, deadlines and the end of a loophole. C.H. Robinson has agreed to buy RXO for $5.8 billion, creating the largest freight brokerage in the US. UK carmakers are staring at a 10% EU tariff on electrified vehicles from 1st January 2027. And Temu's UK revenue has jumped 171% just as the government brings forward the end of duty-free low-value parcels. We have also added a late bonus story: a rare piece of good tariff news, with the US and China each cutting tariffs on about $30 billion of goods. Here is what happened and why each one matters for sourcing, retail and supply chain teams.
C.H. Robinson's $5.8 Billion RXO Bet: What the Freight Brokerage Mega-Merger Means for Shippers and Carriers
Two of the four biggest US truck brokers are becoming one, with a combined enterprise value above $25 billion and a $300 million savings target. Investors marked the buyer's shares down almost 11% and S&P moved its outlook to negative, so the price and the debt are as much a story as the scale. If you buy freight capacity, expect less competitive tension and plan for it.
UK Carmakers Face a £1.4 Billion EU Tariff Cliff on 1st January 2027: What Tougher Rules of Origin Mean for Automotive Sourcing
Battery supply chains in Europe are nowhere near ready for the origin rules that kick in on New Year's Day, and SMMT reckons the 10% tariff could cost about £1.4 billion a year. With the EU taking more than half of UK vehicle exports, the pressure is on London and Brussels to find a fix. Sourcing teams cannot afford to wait for one.
Temu UK's Revenue Leaps 171% as the £135 Duty Loophole Closes: What the Low-Value Import Crackdown Means for Ecommerce Sourcing
Temu's UK revenue rose from $63 million to $171 million, powered by a duty relief on parcels under £135 that ministers have now promised to end by October 2028. Retailers say that is still too slow, and the compliance work for sellers starts well before then. Here is how to get ready.
US-China Tariff Relief on $30 Billion of Goods: Why Toys Lead the List but Holiday Savings May Be Slim
Washington and Beijing have each named about $30 billion of goods for lower tariffs, and toys, dolls, puzzles and holiday gifts are among the most visible winners on the US side. The catch is that the overall US tariff rate on Chinese imports only falls from about 22% to about 20.5%, nothing has taken effect yet, and most of this year's holiday stock has already landed. Think of it as a signal for your 2027 buy, not a price cut to bank today.
That's this week's top stories. Hit reply and let us know which of these you want us to keep tracking.
