Escalating Tariff Threats: A New Wave of U.S. Imports on the Horizon! How Should Container Traders Respond?

The looming threat of tariffs is prompting U.S. importers to place orders in advance. Multiple disruptions in the supply chain, coupled with the impending tariff policies of the Trump administration, may lead U.S. importers to increase their inventory by ordering ahead of time.

Some companies are also likely to adjust their procurement strategies. Simon Heaney, Senior Manager of Container Research at Drewry, remarked, “I believe shippers have arranged shipments earlier this year. Following the conclusion of the election, we will witness more of such actions.” This is indeed the case. An American multinational importer disclosed, “For our business sectors sourcing from China, I am confident that the new tariff costs will drive the procurement department to reassess their purchasing decisions.”

Heaney warned that the Chinese New Year might further accelerate the advance in import activities. Moreover, global shipping could also be affected by the initiation of new shipping alliances, which historically tend to cause some level of disruption during their initial operations.

Emily Stausbøll, Senior Shipping Analyst at Xeneta, stated in an interview with The Loadstar that the upcoming Chinese New Year freight will “no longer follow the usual pattern” due to shippers arranging shipments in advance. She noted, “For European importers of goods from Asia, the early imports we have seen this year may mean they are already well-stocked, reducing the rush before the Lunar New Year. For U.S. importers, the situation might be entirely different.”

“The potential threats facing the U.S. remain, such as Trump’s tariff protection policies and the threat of strikes at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports in January next year.” However, Heaney pointed out that there is a significant information gap regarding the new tariff thresholds, increases, and scope. What Trump says and does often do not align. During his presidential campaign, Trump declared a maximum 20% tariff on all goods exported to the U.S. and an additional 60% tariff on goods from China. Oxford Economics believes his tariff statements are merely a negotiation tactic. They predict that Trump will impose targeted tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada, and the EU, expected to begin in early 2026 and gradually implemented over the following year.

He advised, “The key is that no one, except his team, truly knows what he is planning, so it makes sense for shippers and importers to start preparing early to handle all possibilities.” Xeneta concurred, stating, “If there is warehouse space and goods ready for shipment, early imports are the simplest way to mitigate risks in the short term.” Xeneta also warned that any increase in demand for transportation on major U.S. trade routes could lead to capacity shortages and rising freight rates.