U.S. container imports saw a notable rise in April as businesses hurried to sidestep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, which now entail a staggering 145% duty on certain goods from China. According to supply chain technology provider Descartes DSG, April container imports surged 9.1% year-over-year, surpassing 2.4 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking it as the second-highest import volume recorded for the month. Imports from China, which remains the United States’ primary maritime trading partner, increased by 6.2%, representing 33.4% of all imports in April. However, following the imposition of hefty tariffs on April 9, many retailers, including major players like Walmart and Amazon, have begun to reassess their orders, with some even pausing or canceling factory requests entirely.
Additional tariffs, set at 10%, have also been implemented on goods from numerous countries, with the possibility of further increases looming. As a result of these changing dynamics, the Port of Los Angeles, the largest U.S. seaport complex and a critical entry point for goods from China, anticipates a 35% year-over-year drop in import cargo this week, according to executive director Gene Seroka. Overall ship traffic in May could see a decline of approximately 20% as cargo vessel operators cancel scheduled voyages amid waning demand. The Port of Long Beach’s CEO, Mario Cordero, shares similar expectations, predicting a 20% decrease in May volume compared to the previous year.
These shifts are compounded by rapidly changing U.S. trade policies, retaliatory actions from trading partners, and ongoing geopolitical instability, which collectively heighten the risk of disruption in global supply chains. Descartes notes that the true effects of the tariffs, along with the expiration of the de minimis exemption, have yet to make their full impact on import volumes from China.