US-China tariff truce triggers surge in container bookings

[WORLD] Bookings for container shipments from China to the United States have skyrocketed nearly 300% following a temporary pause in retaliatory tariffs between the two nations, container-tracking software firm Vizion reported on Wednesday.

The sharp rise signals a renewed push by American importers to rebuild inventory levels after weeks of hesitation prompted by tariff-related uncertainty. With duties eased, many retailers and manufacturers are racing to secure shipping space ahead of the holiday season, when demand for Chinese-made goods traditionally surges.

According to Ben Tracy, Vizion’s vice president of strategic business development, average bookings for the seven days ending Wednesday jumped 277% to 21,530 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared to an average of 5,709 TEUs in the week ending May 5.

Import activity had slowed significantly after April 2, when former President Donald Trump unveiled plans to impose 145% tariffs on Chinese imports.

Analysts warn the sudden rebound could create short-term logjams at major U.S. ports, particularly Los Angeles and Long Beach, which handle much of the transpacific cargo. Officials at these ports are already preparing for possible delays, as the spike in arrivals may strain existing labor and infrastructure.

The shipping surge follows Monday’s announcement of a 90-day suspension in the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing. Under the temporary deal, the U.S. reduced tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China lowered its duties on American products from 125% to 10%.

Despite this easing, logistics experts caution that uncertainty remains. The 90-day window is widely viewed as an opportunity for further negotiations. If talks fail, tariffs could return to previous levels—or even escalate—risking renewed disruptions to global supply chains.

“We’re definitely seeing bookings rebound now that the temporary pause is in place,” said Tracy. German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd also reported a strong uptick in transpacific traffic, with U.S.-China bookings up 50% in the first few days of the week.

The revival in shipping demand has helped lift freight rates, which had tumbled during the height of the tariff tensions. Spot rates for containers from China to the U.S. West Coast have climbed nearly 40% since the truce was announced, though they still fall short of pre-dispute levels.

Speaking to Reuters, Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen remarked, “I expect that there will be additional volume between China and the U.S. That is what we have already seen in the last few days.”