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First Chinese Freight Shipments Hit with Trump’s 145% Tariffs Arrive at U.S. Ports
First Chinese Freight Shipments Hit with Trump’s 145% Tariffs Arrive at U.S. Ports
10 tháng 5 2025・ 13:55
The first containers of Chinese goods subject to President Donald Trump’s 145% import tariffs have officially arrived at U.S. ports.
According to reports, seven ships carrying over 12,000 containers that departed China after the tariffs took effect have docked at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California. Five more ships are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Major retailers including Amazon, Home Depot, Ikea, Ralph Lauren, and Tractor Supply are among those with cargo inside these shipments, spanning a wide range of consumer products.
Amazon’s imports include a variety of items such as refrigerators, deep fryers, mousepads, bookshelves, and living room sofas, procured on behalf of third-party sellers.
Tractor Supply’s shipments feature portable drum fans, gardening tools, and men’s work boots, among other items.
Meanwhile, Home Depot has cleared lamps and ceiling fans through customs.
A spokesperson for Tractor Supply told CNBC that the company faces “notable uncertainty” due to the impact of the tariffs:
“Tractor Supply is actively working with its vendor and supply chain partners to navigate the impact of the recently announced tariffs, while also monitoring the broader macroeconomic factors impacting its customers,” the spokesperson said.
A Broad Range of Affected Products
Products imported from China and now subject to steep tariffs also include:
Ikea furniture
Speedo swim goggles and swim caps
Procter & Gamble tissue holders
Samsung printed circuit boards, microwaves, and refrigerator parts
Ralph Lauren sweaters, cashmere, and blazers
Dr. Martens Airwair footwear
LG washing machines, air conditioners, ranges, refrigerators, and dishwashers
Bauer Hockey sporting goods
Lenovo computer parts
Auto parts for Valeo North America
Headsets and computer keyboards for Polaris
Many companies are importing essential products to maintain stock levels, despite concerns over slowing consumer demand and broader economic uncertainty.
Amazon said in an emailed statement:
“We continue to work with our broad, diverse range of valued selling partners to support them in adapting to the evolving environment while maintaining a wide selection and low prices for customers.”
Home Depot, currently in a quiet period ahead of its quarterly results, referred CNBC to a prior statement citing “a fluid environment.”
“Together with our vendors, we are monitoring developments and will work closely to manage with the goal of being our customers’ advocate for value,” a Home Depot spokesperson said.
Sharp Decline in Chinese Freight Traffic to the U.S.
President Trump recently indicated he is willing to lower tariffs on China to 80%, a level that many businesses still consider “extremely high.”
“80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” Trump posted on Truth Social, referencing an upcoming meeting between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese officials in Switzerland.
Brian Bourke, global chief commercial officer at SEKO Logistics, told CNBC that clients continue to struggle with the complexity of the various overlapping or conflicting tariff provisions.
“This confusion has led them to continually alter and update their scenario planning, freezing any other decisions for the business they would be making,” Bourke said.
He noted that many clients priced and sold their products before the tariffs were announced:
“With the speed, severity, and volume of new tariff provisions, they are unable to change the pricing on items that have already sold and are only now arriving in May and June—or later.”
Following the announcement of the tariffs in early April, container and vessel traffic from China to the U.S. has plummeted.
According to Sea-Intelligence, there were 90 blank sailings across the Asia–North America West Coast and Asia–North America East Coast routes in April and May. The Ocean Alliance (comprising China’s COSCO and OOCL, Taiwan-based Evergreen, and France’s CMA CGM) accounted for 48 of the canceled sailings.
Logistics providers and ocean carriers report bookings are down between 30% and 50%.
A Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates forecasts that import cargo volumes at major U.S. container ports will post the first year-over-year decline since 2023 as a result of the tariffs.
Alongside canceled sailings and fewer containers to fill due to paused manufacturing orders, ocean carriers are deploying smaller vessels to handle trade. MSC, the world’s largest ocean carrier, along with the Gemini Alliance (Maersk and Hapag Lloyd), are using smaller ships on Asia–North America West Coast routes.
Sea-Intelligence data shows MSC’s container capacity is down 28% year-over-year, while Ocean Alliance capacity is down 26% year-over-year.
Bourke warned that once companies deplete their safety stock, the risk of product shortages and empty shelves grows:
“What happens when the safety stocks that had been built up disappear?” Bourke said.
Source: CNBC
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