HQ Meeting, Middle East Legal Guidance & US Tariff Updates

2026 FIATA HQ Meeting: Geneva Awaits!

Taking place from 30 March to 2 April 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting brings together freight forwarding leaders from around the world to share insights and shape the future of global logistics.

The Opening Session will do more than launch the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting - it will set the stage with a timely and dynamic discussion on the global economic landscape shaping the freight forwarding industry. Expect the latest data and market indicators, offering insight into current economic trends, trade flows, and emerging pressures affecting supply chains.

Joining the discussion will be:

• Ms Ganyi Zhang, Research Expert, HHLA Next
• Mr Fabrizio Quirighetti, CIO - Head of Multi-Asset, DECALIA SA
• Ms Antonella Teodoro, Senior Consultant, MDS Transmodal

Moderated by Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General.

Do not forget to register for the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting! Discover the programme, session details, and practical travelling tips in the newly published FIATA Review.

Click here to register for the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting

Click here to read the latest FIATA Review

International Trade and Law: FIATA Issues Legal & Insurance Guidance Amid Middle East Tensions

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and affecting regional airspace, with direct consequences for transit times, freight rates, and insurance conditions worldwide.

In response, FIATA with its Advisory Body on Legal Matters has released a dedicated briefing: Middle East Security Situation - Contractual and Insurance Considerations for Freight Forwarders.

The guidance covers carrier contractual rights, recovery of additional costs and surcharges, force majeure provisions, insurance gaps, and practical risk-management measures, including a checklist for immediate action.

The situation is evolving rapidly. FIATA strongly encourages all members to review the briefing, assess the impact on current and upcoming shipments, and communicate proactively with customers.

For further information, contact FIATA Headquarters at [email protected].

Access the full legal and operational guidance

International Trade and Law: NCD Convention FAQs Now Available in French and Arabic

In December 2025, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD Convention) - a landmark development extending the benefits of negotiable bills of lading to all modes of transport and providing a harmonised legal framework for multimodal trade finance. The Convention was developed under the auspices of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the UN's dedicated body for modernising and harmonising international trade law.

FIATA has been actively involved in shaping the Convention alongside UNCITRAL and is already working with industry stakeholders on test transactions and pilot projects ahead of its entry into force.

To help Members and the wider logistics community prepare, FIATA, together with UNCITRAL, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Global Shippers Forum, and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), developed Frequently Asked Questions on the NCD Convention, now available in English, French, and Arabic.

The FAQs cover the key provisions of the Convention, its implications for freight forwarders and transport operators, and how FIATA tools such as the FBL and eFBL can be used to take advantage of the new framework.

For further information, contact FIATA Headquarters at [email protected].

What You Need to Know About the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD)

Ce que vous devez savoir sur la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux documents de cargaison négociables (DNC)

(NCD) ما ينبغي معرفته عن اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة بشأن مستندات الشحن القابلة للتداول

International Trade and Law: Update - Developments in US IEEPA Tariff Refund Process

Recent court proceedings in the United States are shaping the process for refunding tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In filings before the United States Court of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated that more than 330,000 importers paid IEEPA duties across over 53 million import entries, representing approximately USD 166 billion. CBP stated that processing refunds entry-by-entry would require significant manual work and that the agency is therefore developing new functionality in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to issue refunds on a consolidated importer basis.

CBP has indicated that this functionality could be implemented within approximately 45 days, subject to court oversight. The court has temporarily paused the requirement for immediate refunds while this mechanism is developed and requested an update from the government on 12 March 2026.

Refunds are expected to be issued to the importer of record. Freight forwarders and customs brokers may receive inquiries from clients regarding the potential refunds and should monitor further guidance from CBP and the court.