Trump Tariff Shockwave Brings Shanghai’s Busy Port to a Halt Overnight
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Planes at the UPS Worldport facility in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., on Aug. 8, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg
Shanghai’s bustling port came to an abrupt halt on Thursday, just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump’s punitive 125% tariffs on Chinese imports took effect — virtually wiping out shipments bound for the United States overnight.
Only days earlier, the port had been a hive of activity, with ships rushing to load containers ahead of the tariff deadline. On April 7 and 8, nearly half the vessels docked at Shanghai’s Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals were bound for the U.S., racing against the clock.
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- Shanghai's port operations stopped abruptly following a 125% tariff by the U.S., significantly reducing container shipments to the U.S. from China.
- Major shipping disruptions include a 40% capacity reduction from China to the U.S. and a sharp decline in bookings, with a 63.5% drop from China.
- Air freight has been less impacted, though fears persist due to new tariffs on e-commerce parcels; tariffs reshape trade dynamics, creating market uncertainty.
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What Happened When
- January 2025：
- Initial point for measuring container rates from Shanghai to U.S. West Coast
- First week of April 2025：
- U.S.-bound cargo bookings dropped drastically
- April 7, 2025：
- Ships at Shanghai's Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals were rushing to load containers ahead of the tariff deadline
- April 7-8, 2025：
- Nearly half the vessels docked at Shanghai's Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals were bound for the U.S.
- After April 8, 2025：
- The Shanghai port came to an abrupt halt, one day after the U.S. tariffs took effect
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