Rexel North America is a leading supplier of electrical products and services, and the company's data-driven strategy has helped it outpace the company's European growth. Rexel USA and Canada CEO Roger Little joins the MDM Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion, including acquisitions, tariffs and investments in digital and talent development.

US container imports have fallen for the second consecutive month due to US tariffs, with inbound container volume dropping 7.9% in June and 6.6% in May, according to analyst John McCown. The downturn has led to a 1.8% decline in second-quarter volume compared with last year. McCown notes this could result in one of the most significant annual declines in US container volume in decades, with spot rates from China to the US West Coast reflecting this volatility.

US President Donald Trump announced a significant new trade agreement with Japan, featuring reciprocal 15% tariffs on exports between the two countries. The deal includes commitments from Japan to open its market further to US products, such as cars, trucks, and agricultural goods. The agreement also involves a $550 billion investment from Japan into the US, with the US set to receive "90% of the profits", according to Trump.

Executives are increasingly looking to AI-driven autonomous supply chains as a strategic lever for agility and resilience, according to an Accenture study. The study shows that 66% of companies plan significant supply chain autonomy advances over the next 10 years, with nearly 40% aiming for higher degrees of autonomy.

Shippers are redirecting freight to larger ports to beat impending tariffs, causing smaller ports such as those in Jacksonville, Fla., New Orleans and Oakland, Calif., to see less traffic. "There is too much uncertainty in the marketplace right now for companies to truly book ahead," says Paul Brashier of ITS Logistics. "Companies are reassigning their logistics to be as efficient as possible in moving their decreased number of containers."

Generative AI has made B2B buyers more skeptical of polished marketing content, sending them to verified user reviews, case studies from customers and peer recommendations rather than official brand content. To build credibility, marketers should strip the fluff from their content, integrate reviews into the customer journey and encourage customers to share authentic stories.

The Labor Department is advancing a broad initiative to scale back workplace regulations, targeting over 60 rules it deems outdated or excessively burdensome. The objective is to boost economic growth by reducing compliance costs for employers. Proposed changes include eliminating minimum wage and overtime protections for home health care workers, rescinding adequate lighting requirements at construction sites and limiting OSHA's ability to penalize employers for risky activities. Critics argue the deregulation would increase workplace hazards.

Global business optimism has declined at the halfway point of 2025, with Dun & Bradstreet's Global Business Optimism Index falling by 6.5% compared to the previous quarter. The downturn continues a trend of diminished confidence observed throughout the year, as business leaders worldwide grow increasingly cautious amid persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.

In today’s digitally driven supply chain, distributors are under pressure to deliver rich, accurate and differentiated product experiences -- faster and across more channels than ever before. But most organizations struggle to get the basics of product data right, let alone scale it for AI-driven automation, personalization or enrichment. In this webcast, an expert panel will dive into the core challenges facing B2B distributors when it comes to organizing, governing and scaling product information. They'll also explore the foundational elements required to make product data AI-ready. Join MDM to learn how to turn complex product data into a competitive advantage.

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