Front loading props up transpacific rates
Transpacific spot rates tick along at 18-month highs, as shippers continue to push through volumes ahead of another round of Trump tariffs on Chinese imports effective from the start of 2019. Rates are anticipated to follow demand and tail off upon the tax levy’s introduction, but yet more tariffs could lead to another cargo windfall
Transpacific rates could be offered another short-term boost if Trump gives the nod to impose import fees on the $257bn worth of Chinese exports still to be subjected to tariffs