America’s ports, still reeling from a sharp drop in cargo shipments triggered by heavy tariffs, could soon see the tide turn as retailers scramble to frontload goods amid a temporary tariff reprieve.

Beginning Wednesday, exports from China to the United States will be subject to a 30% tariff—down significantly from the steep 145% rate that stifled trade for the past six weeks. The reduced rate comes as part of a 90-day tariff truce between Washington and Beijing, offering a brief window of relief for businesses dependent on Chinese imports.

Industry leaders and logistics experts are warning of a potential shipping boom as retailers move fast to stockpile goods before tariffs potentially rise again.

“This is peak season for holiday merchandise, and some retailers will definitely seize the opportunity to pull inventory in early,” said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation. “It’s a race against the clock.”

That’s a playbook businesses already know well. Ahead of the April 9 tariff spike, importers had rushed to beat the deadline, pushing volumes higher in March. With China supplying the bulk of U.S. imports—ranging from apparel and electronics to microchips—the cost of doing business with Chinese firms remains a major concern, particularly for small and mid-sized companies.

Ports across the West Coast are now preparing for a mid-summer influx. Ryan Calkins, vice president of the Port of Seattle Commission, said operations would be ramped up in anticipation of the surge.

“We anticipate a significant spike by mid-summer and are taking steps to ensure we’re fully staffed to meet demand,” Calkins told WafricNews.

Freight giant Flexport echoed the sentiment, stating it’s too soon to quantify the scale of the expected spike, but early indicators point to a substantial jump in bookings. Charles van der Steene, North America president of Maersk, confirmed trade volumes from China to the U.S. had plummeted up to 40% in recent weeks amid tariff uncertainty.

“Businesses didn’t know what to expect, so many hit pause on their supply chains,” van der Steene said. “Now that there’s clarity and temporary relief, we expect pent-up supply to hit the system quickly.”

Economist Peter Boockvar predicts a historic rush to order goods, warning that the cost of transportation is likely to soar in tandem.

“We’re looking at a potential ordering frenzy over the next three months, unlike anything we’ve seen,” Boockvar said.

Despite these predictions, the short-term outlook remains grim. It takes three to four weeks for cargo to travel from China to the U.S. West Coast, meaning ports are still facing a steep decline in ship calls and cargo volume this month. Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, noted a projected 20% drop in ship arrivals and a 25% dip in cargo throughput.

Long Beach has reported even sharper declines, with cargo volume down by 35–40% last week. At one point on Friday, not a single vessel left China for the San Pedro Bay Complex—a silence not witnessed since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, 17 fewer ships are expected at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach through mid-May, according to data from the Marine Exchange of Southern California.

The Port of Seattle also saw a rare sight last week: empty docks. The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which oversees Seattle and Tacoma, projects an 8% to 15% drop in overall volumes. Ships now arriving from China are carrying 17% less cargo than usual.

In a statement to WafricNews, the Alliance noted: “Tariff adjustments don’t erase the broader economic disruption they’ve already caused. From lost business to fluctuating cargo levels, inconsistency is the enemy of a stable supply chain.”

East Coast ports are facing a similar delay in recovery. With journey times from Asia taking 4 to 6 weeks, cargo surges may not materialize there until late June or early July.

“If orders go in now, we could see a rebound in East Coast ports around late June,” said Gold.

Still, the new 30% tariff—though far lower than 145%—remains burdensome. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned on Monday that current rates are still significantly higher than at the start of the year and called for targeted relief for small businesses.

“The larger retailers can better absorb these costs, but smaller players are far more vulnerable,” Gold said. “Everyone’s trying to figure out how this plays out—fast.”


By WafricNews Desk.