China has signaled a potential thaw in the ongoing tariff war with the US, saying it's evaluating Washington's outreach for talks while urging sincerity from the Trump administration. Markets responded positively, though China warned negotiations hinge on the US rolling back unilateral tariff hikes. "I am confident that the Chinese will want to reach a deal. And as I said, this is going to be a multi-step process," said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

ORS Nasco, an industrial supplies master wholesaler, has acquired Techniweld USA, an Atlanta-based welding manufacturer and supplier, marking ORS Nasco's second acquisition in three months. ORS Nasco President and CEO Kevin Short says the acquisition of Techniweld USA, which operates seven distribution centers, will enhance customer service and competitiveness.

New orders for US-manufactured goods rose 4.3% in March to $618.8 billion, marking the third consecutive monthly increase, per data from the Census Bureau. Durable goods increased 9.2%, while transportation equipment orders jumped 27.1%. Shipments fell 0.1% to $596.2 billion, while unfilled orders increased 2% to $1.43 trillion. Inventories rose for the fifth straight month, up 0.1% to $865.3 billion.

The US job market added 177,000 jobs in April, surpassing economists' expectations of 135,000, despite a slight decrease from March's revised figure of 185,000. The growth reflects continued labor market resilience since the pandemic recovery, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.2%.

US retailers and manufacturers are reducing shipments from China in response to high tariffs, notably those with levies reaching up to 145%. This has led to a significant drop in container arrivals at West Coast ports, with the Port of Los Angeles expecting a 35% decrease this week and the Port of Long Beach a 38% drop compared with a year ago. Port leaders have warned of supply disruptions and potential price shocks for consumers.

Aurora Innovation has debuted the first commercial driverless freight service in the US, using autonomous trucks to transport goods between Houston and Dallas. The Aurora Driver system, classified as SAE Level 4, operates without human intervention and has completed over 10,000 hauls during its pilot phase.

B2B marketing needs to embrace change and adapt to the rapidly evolving technological landscape, writes Scott Hornstein. He emphasizes the importance of aligning goals with profitability, restructuring organizations to enhance customer lifetime value and leveraging martech strategically. "The human touch brings it all home," Hornstein writes. "No technology can replace it."

The US economy demonstrated significant resilience amid challenges in April, with job creation surpassing expectations and the unemployment rate remaining low. However, President Donald Trump's tariff policies, particularly a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, are causing concern among consumers and businesses, leading to potential price hikes and trade disruptions.

While leadership traits such as courage, confidence, empathy and integrity are essential, if you want to drive change in your organization, you must develop a solid leadership process, writes Paul Thornton. This involves diagnosing the situation, identifying opportunities, presenting a clear message and planning and implementing change. Each step requires involving the right people and prioritizing actions for effective results.

Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW's premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.

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