- A 90-day tariff truce between the U.S. and China has triggered a surge in delayed shipments heading to Washington’s ports, offering a temporary boost to international trade.
- Despite the rebound in cargo bookings, earlier tariff-driven cancellations continue to depress port activity, with full recovery expected to take weeks or months.
- The temporary nature of the tariff reduction leaves businesses cautious, as trade-reliant companies face uncertainty about future costs and order stability.
Washington state’s international trade may soon see signs of life following a 90-day tariff truce between the United States and China. The brief pause in trade hostilities prompted shipping companies to rush previously delayed cargo into the supply chain. However, this surge in activity is expected to take several weeks or even months to fully materialize, too late to counteract the slowdown already being felt at key gateways like the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.
Trade on a Tight Timeline
Although the truce has created short-term opportunities, businesses remain wary. With tariffs only lifted temporarily, many are hesitant to commit fully to restarting long supply chains. For companies like Everett-based Access Laser, which both imports key components and exports most of its products, the uncertainty is especially challenging. The firm is currently accelerating production to fulfill a major order from a Chinese client before the truce ends, all while fearing a possible order cancellation if tariffs return to punishing levels.
Economic Whiplash from Trade Policies
Since the initial wave of tariffs in early 2024, businesses tied to global trade have experienced dramatic shifts. Some sought to minimize losses by importing goods ahead of tariff hikes—a tactic known as forward buying. This behavior drove a spike in container imports through the first four months of the year, with Seattle and Tacoma ports seeing a 22% increase over the same period in 2024.
The Slump Before the Surge
However, as tensions peaked in April—leading to tit-for-tat tariffs of up to 145%—many shipments were abruptly canceled or delayed. This fallout hit Washington ports by early May, with container volumes and vessel arrivals dropping sharply. Between May 2 and May 9, container imports were down 11% compared to the prior year, and ship arrivals between May 1 and May 19 fell 9%.
Signs of a Short-Term Turn around
Since the truce, which lowered U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% and Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%, trade patterns have begun to reverse again. Starting around May 7, bookings for shipments from China to Washington surged rapidly, with container bookings to Seattle and Tacoma climbing about 170% in just 11 days. This rebound is stronger than what many other U.S. ports have experienced, offering a glimmer of hope for Washington’s trade sector, at least for now.
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Source: The Seattle Times
