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Episode #18: The 18% Handshake and the Atlantic Wall
Welcome back to Freightos' Container Bytes, Episode 18. Judah and I were just reminiscing about the fact that we don't have theme music. We still don't. But what we do have is a weather report that’s actually scarier than the geopolitics for once. Storm Kristin just put the North Atlantic in a chokehold, grounding vessels from Spain to the English Channel and proving that Mother Nature still has the biggest veto in logistics. ⛈️
In this episode, we break down the US-India "Sweet Spot" deal—a massive shift that slashed tariffs from 50% down to 18%. If you’ve been looking for a sign to diversify away from China, this is it (just mind the new energy and tech quotas). We also track the Gemini Alliance’s high-stakes gamble; Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are betting the post-Lunar New Year lull is the perfect window to sneak back through the Suez under naval escort.
Meanwhile, the Transpacific just took a 10% swan dive, with rates falling below $2,000/FEU. It’s a "mini-peak" crash that makes it a surprisingly good time to be an importer—if you can dodge the ice.
Full weekly update here: Winter weather challenges, trade deals and more tariff threats – February 3, 2026 Update
Chapters:
- 00:00:00 — The Atlantic Wall: Storm Kristin and the Med shutdown.
- 00:01:40 — Strait of Hormuz Staredown: Drones, tankers, and Jebel Ali.
- 00:03:10 — The Gemini Gambit: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd head back to Suez.
- 00:04:15 — The 10% Swan Dive: Why Transpacific rates just bottomed out.
- 00:06:30 — Tariff Update: The 18% US-India "Handshake."
This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know.
For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.
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By FreightosWelcome back to Freightos' Container Bytes, Episode 18. Judah and I were just reminiscing about the fact that we don't have theme music. We still don't. But what we do have is a weather report that’s actually scarier than the geopolitics for once. Storm Kristin just put the North Atlantic in a chokehold, grounding vessels from Spain to the English Channel and proving that Mother Nature still has the biggest veto in logistics. ⛈️
In this episode, we break down the US-India "Sweet Spot" deal—a massive shift that slashed tariffs from 50% down to 18%. If you’ve been looking for a sign to diversify away from China, this is it (just mind the new energy and tech quotas). We also track the Gemini Alliance’s high-stakes gamble; Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are betting the post-Lunar New Year lull is the perfect window to sneak back through the Suez under naval escort.
Meanwhile, the Transpacific just took a 10% swan dive, with rates falling below $2,000/FEU. It’s a "mini-peak" crash that makes it a surprisingly good time to be an importer—if you can dodge the ice.
Full weekly update here: Winter weather challenges, trade deals and more tariff threats – February 3, 2026 Update
Chapters:
- 00:00:00 — The Atlantic Wall: Storm Kristin and the Med shutdown.
- 00:01:40 — Strait of Hormuz Staredown: Drones, tankers, and Jebel Ali.
- 00:03:10 — The Gemini Gambit: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd head back to Suez.
- 00:04:15 — The 10% Swan Dive: Why Transpacific rates just bottomed out.
- 00:06:30 — Tariff Update: The 18% US-India "Handshake."
This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know.
For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.