90-Day Tariff Break Risks Major Shipping Disruption, Says Report

US weakness exposed as US-China trade war paused

On 12 May, little more than a month after Trump launched massive tariffs on China on 2 April, a ceasefire in the US-China trade war was declared. The crippling tariffs, which effectively meant each country’s economy was sealed off from the other, have now been paused for 90 days.

US-China Tariff Truce Triggers Cargo Stampede, Scramble to Diversify Beyond China: Analysts

News Analysis When word broke on May 12 that Washington and Beijing had agreed to a 90-day tariff pause, containers quickly piled up at Shenzhen’s Yantian International Container Terminal, the port that handles more than a quarter of U.S.-bound cargo. U.S. duties dropped from 145 percent to 30 percent and China’s from 125 percent to 10 percent. Within a day, rows of outbound boxes jammed major Chinese docks, carriers were quoting peak-season sur…

It is unclear what will happen after the 90-day customs truce.

90-day tariff break risks major shipping disruption, says report

The surprisingly announced 90-day tariff pause in the trade war between the US and China could destabilize global maritime trade more than the tariff increases imposed so far.

UPDATE: Status of Tariffs on China

On May 12, 2025, the United States and the People’s Republic of China agreed to temporarily suspend most tariffs for 90 days. The joint statement released by the Trump Administration states both countries will slash existing tariff rates and work towards a longer team deal over the next 90 days: CHINESE ACTIONS: China will decrease tariffs to 10%. China will remove retaliatory tariffs it announced on April 4, 2025 and will also suspend or remov…

On May 12, barely more than a month after Trump imposed massive tariffs on China, a ceasefire was declared in the trade war between the US and China. The paralysing tariffs, which have more or less isolated the economies of both countries from each other, were suspended for 90 days. How did it happen so suddenly? According to Trump's team, the negotiations took place in a friendly and optimistic atmosphere. But what was really agreed on? What ha…