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WASHINGTON — The World Bank is downgrading its outlook for the global economy, blaming continuing outbreaks of COVID-19, a reduction in government economic support and ongoing bottlenecks in global supply chains.

More stringent COVID-19 vaccine requirements set to take effect at the borders may put new pressure on freight traffic between the United States and Canada, experts said.

Massachusetts DOT told federal regulators overseeing the potential purchase of Pan Am Railways by competitor CSX that the state needs CSX to guarantee track access for east-west passenger trains through Springfield.

The Supreme Court appears divided on legal challenges centering on the scope and federal authority of the Biden administration’s sweeping proposed COVID vaccine mandate, which would require private-sector firms to vaccinate or test tens of millions of employees.

A suspension of trucking services in several parts of east China’s Zhejiang province has slowed the transportation of manufactured goods and commodities through one of the world’s most important ports.

The Jan. 4 announcement appears to be a significant step in that direction. According to the governor’s office, the overall concept calls for $231.6 million in investment in rail projects “to upgrade economic development infrastructure in central and southern Alabama.”

The U.S. trade deficit widened in November, reflecting a surge in the value of imports as domestic retailers made a final push to stock shelves for holiday shoppers and demand for foreign oil increased.

U.S. port authorities and ocean carriers, dealing with record import volumes, need to ensure that exports aren’t hindered amid the unprecedented supply chain logjams that aren’t showing clear signs of dissipating, President Joe Biden’s port envoy said.

The British International Freight Association is calling on the U.K. government to investigate the state of competition within the global container-shipping market, as transportation costs remain elevated heading into the third year of the pandemic.

The U.S. merchandise-trade deficit widened to a record in November as imports surged to an all-time high. The gap increased to $97.8 billion last month from a revised $83.2 billion in October, according to Commerce Department data released Dec. 29.