Shipping braces for impact after Trump drops tariff ‘bomb’ on world trade
- Exceptionally high tariff levels and expectations they will be negotiated down could convince some US importers to pause orders, reducing shipping demand
- New tariff policy expected to increase inflation in the US, another negative for container shipping demand
- Pressure on the global economy and retaliatory tariffs targeting US exports would spread negative impact to tanker and bulker trades
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs sent shockwaves through stock markets and the global trading community on Thursday. The fallout will hit container shipping first, and could eventually spread to dry bulk and tankers, particularly if other nations retaliate against US exports