Barge Outlook ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Despite High Water, Tariffs

At the Inland Marine Expo, IEG Vantage's Ken Eriksen said the barge industry remains cautiously optimistic despite unprecedented high water and disrupted flows linked to the US-China trade dispute. He noted that China's retaliatory tariffs since April 2018 have greatly affected global commodity flows.

The Trump administration has offered a $12 billion farm relief package and is considering another $15 billion to $20 billion.