An impending international requirement that shippers verify the weight of their goods before transport will sharply raise shipping costs on major trade lanes and trigger delays in moving cargo through ports, according to a new report.

Disputes with suppliers can be costly. Now there's a guide to avoiding them - and defending against them when they do occur.

Has your company seen all the headlines about shipping lithium ion batteries by air? How are you supposed to keep up with what's compliant and what is not? Here's a concise overview on the lithium ion battery air transport regulations that will be effective April 1, along with a preview of what might be expected later in 2016.

Analyst Insight: Anyone doing business in today's economy knows that "business happens." The dynamic pace of business means the contract you sign today may not be the right contract for tomorrow. This is why academics, lawyers, and judges are starting to argue for more relational contracts where good ethics are embedded into the overall intent and framework of a commercial contract. When that happens, relational contracting could become a welcome "new normal." - Kate Vitasek, faculty member of the University of Tennessee's College of Business Administration, and principal author of six books on the Vested business model and methodology.

Just who's responsible for weighing that ocean container? After several years of thrashing out a rule to combat the problem of misdeclared weights, regulators and rulemaking bodies still can't seem to agree.

The Paris Climate Agreement resulted in a commitment by 195 countries to enact strict policies to address global climate change. Now manufacturers will have to fall into line.

Here's a question for U.S. exporters who were grievously harmed by the West Coast longshore labor slowdown in late 2014 and early 2015: Would it make you feel any better to learn that you were the victims of "a street brawl"?

Analyst Insight: Over the next few years, numerous new regulations are coming into effect worldwide, requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, dispensers and others up and down the chain to build serialization, verification, and traceability into their supply chains. While there is tremendous potential ROI and added value from these investments, right now all the focus is on the race to comply before the deadlines hit. Those who get there first will likely have a head start in finding additional value from these newfound capabilities. - Bill McBeath, Chief Research Officer, ChainLink Research

After years of delay, the automation of importer filings, involving multiple government agencies, is upon us. Say hello to the "Single Window."