‘Buckle up. This is going to get really bumpy,’ warns LA port boss
- Large US importers with ‘globally famous brands’ have temporarily halted orders from China, reports Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka
- March import volumes were strong due to frontloading, while cargo already in transit will support April volumes, but the numbers will begin to fall in May
- Around 40% of US containerised imports are from China; these cargoes now face an unprecedented tariff of 145%
There is a lag between the tariff effect on loadings in China and imports at US ports. Containerships will arrive full for the next few weeks as the final cargoes shipped before the tariff deadline make their way across the Pacific. Then the import numbers will sink
