As the White House rolls back its tariffs on dozens of food groups, the cold-chain warehouse specialist Lineage Inc. says it can help its customers seize new market opportunities by moving products in and out of the U.S. with greater efficiency through expanded import and export services.
The change in market conditions occurred last Friday when the Trump Administration canceled its “reciprocal” tariffs on more than 200 food products, including beef, coffee, bananas, spices, and nuts.
Some business groups, such as the Main Street Alliance representing small and medium businesses (SMBs), cheered the change as “welcome relief from months of rising costs,” pointing out that tariffs are taxes paid by American companies on imported goods. “Small businesses across America welcome this relief,” Richard Trent, Main Street Alliance Executive Director, said in a statement. “The waived duties on staples like beef and coffee, which the President directly cited in his rollout, respond to the sharp food-price pressures our members have faced.For local manufacturers, cafés, independent grocers and Main Street retailers, these moves offer meaningful short‐term assistance to counteract the cost shocks brought by the earlier blanket tariffs.”
Likewise, groups like the Consumer Brands Association said the rollback would help to reduce grocery costs and address inflation, since the taxed commodities can’t be realistically sourced in the U.S.
However, the swift change in policy also presents challenges for food industry businesses that must now adjust to new economic regulations, according to Lineage. “At times of inflection in policy or market conditions, Lineage offers a unique ability to move with our customers because we can offer warehousing, transportation, and port services under one roof,” Chris Skraba, a Head of Business Development for Lineage in North America, said in a release. “Whether the tariff rollback is the right market opportunity or customers just want to be sure they’re in the best position down the line—Lineage has invested strategically in the integrated transportation and import/export expertise to enable companies to move product across borders seamlessly and efficiently.”
Lineage said it offers an array of services that can take product from origin pickup and ocean freight to customs clearance, drayage, and delivery with additional options to respond to regulatory changes and extend shelf life. Examples include: bonded warehousing capacity at more than 60 sites, bonded transportation services, USDA Inspection (I-House) capabilities on site at 42 facilities in the U.S., blast freezing capacity at more than 100 facilities around the globe, port-centric warehousing at more than 220 global locations, freight forwarding capabilities, and customs brokerage services.
