Cargo Ships Are Racing Across Pacific as U.S.-China Tariff Deadline Looms
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In a desperate sprint to beat looming U.S. tariffs, cargo ships and airlines are racing across the Pacific at record speeds. Containers are stacked to the brim, ports are scrambling to meet demand and freight rates are soaring amid a surge in shipping activity.
The American-flagged container ship President Bush, packed with more than 7,000 containers, left Shanghai Port Monday at a brisk speed of 15 knots. During its earlier voyage from Oakland, California, to China, the ship clocked 20 knots — nearly double the usual economic cruising speed — crossing the Pacific in only 17 days.
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- Shipping and air freight between China and the U.S. are accelerating to avoid tariffs, causing ports to manage increased demand and soaring freight rates.
- Ships like the President Bush are maximizing speed and capacity, while traders navigate unclear tariff-imposed timelines.
- The tariff tension stems from U.S. and Chinese trade retaliation, impacting shipping costs, global trade patterns, and market sentiments, with analysts cautioning possible long-term disruption.
- March 2025：
- The TAC Index reported a 7.1% rise in global air freight prices, driven by demand from China to the U.S. and Europe, with rates from Shanghai rising nearly 12% over the period.
- April 2, 2025：
- The Trump administration announced steep "reciprocal tariffs" on all major trade partners, and China retaliated with a 34% tariff on U.S. goods.
- April 3, 2025：
- Freight rate from China to U.S. West Coast ports jumped 24% to $2,313 per container, according to Shanghai Shipping Exchange.
- April 7, 2025：
- The American-flagged container ship President Bush departed Shanghai Port at 15 knots, with the previous voyage from Oakland to China clocking 20 knots, completing the Pacific crossing in just 17 days.
- April 7, 2025：
- Air freight agents reported a surge in shipments due to the urgent need to ship cargo before the April 9 tariff cut-off.
- April 7, 2025：
- President Trump threatened harsher tariffs if China did not reverse its countermeasures by April 8, 2025, warning of a 50% tariff hike effective April 9, 2025.
- April 7-8, 2025：
- Nearly half the ships docked at Shanghai's Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals were bound for U.S. ports.
- April 9, 2025：
- Cargo must be loaded and underway — in their "final mode of transit" — before 12:01 p.m. Eastern Time to avoid the tariffs.
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