The recent 90-day de-escalation in U.S.-China tariffs, effective from May 14, 2025, is poised to significantly impact global supply chains, potentially triggering an early peak shipping season, reports Container News.
This temporary truce reduces U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to a baseline of 30%, while China lowers its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods from 125% to 10% .
Ocean freight
Freightos, a global freight booking platform, indicates that this tariff rollback is already influencing shipping patterns. The prior imposition of steep tariffs had led to a significant decline in container volumes between China and the U.S., with a reported drop of over 35% since early April. However, the recent easing has prompted a surge in demand, as businesses rush to restock inventories ahead of potential future tariff hikes.
This frontloading behavior mirrors patterns observed during previous trade tensions, where importers accelerated shipments to avoid impending tariffs. The current scenario suggests a similar trend, with expectations of increased shipping volumes in the coming months.
While the de-escalation offers temporary relief, the long-term outlook remains uncertain. The underlying trade disputes between the U.S. and China persist, and businesses are advised to stay vigilant and adaptable to further policy changes.
Effective May 14, 2025, the U.S. reduced its tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China lowered its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. This substantial rollback follows a period of heightened trade tensions that had severely disrupted supply chains and dampened shipping volumes.
The previous high tariffs had led to a more than 35% drop in China-U.S. ocean freight volumes since early April. With the new, albeit temporary, tariff reductions, shippers are expected to replenish depleted inventories, leading to a significant rebound in demand
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Source: Container News
