SeatradeMaritime: Relief for shipping as US – China tariff truce extended for 90 days

Hours ahead of the deadline for increased tariffs to come into force the two countries announced an extension of current levels.

The US and China have agreed a further 90-day pause on higher tariffs between the two global economic giants. Levels had been set to surge at 12:01 am on 12 August with US tariffs on Chinese goods set to surge to 54% from 30%, while Chinese tariffs on US imports had been set to rise to 30% from 10%.

The 90-day pause until 10 November maintains existing tariff levels as negotiations between the two countries continue and staves of an expected plunge Chinese imports into the US which would have been damaging to shipping trade.

On the US side the pause in higher tariffs was affected by an Executive Order from President Donald Trump.

“The United States continues to have discussions with the PRC to address the lack of trade reciprocity in our economic relationship and our resulting national and economic security concerns.  Through these discussions, the PRC continues to take significant steps toward remedying non-reciprocal trade arrangements and addressing the concerns of the United States relating to economic and national security matters,” the Executive Order said.

China also confirmed the extension of the pause in tariffs which it said followed negotiations with the US in Stockholm at the end of July.

The news will come as relief to shipping companies which had expected to see a sharp drop off in volumes if US tariffs on Chinese goods had risen to 54% from 30% at present.

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On 8 August US West Coast gateway Port of Long Beach reported its highest ever July volumes handling 944,232 teu. “Retailers are now seeing the arrival of goods that were purchased for lower costs during the temporary pause placed on tariffs and retaliatory tariffs earlier this year,” commented Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero.

Due to tariff uncertainty the port was forecasting at cargo volumes would be down 10% in the second half of 2025. In the first seven months of the year container volumes at Long Beach were up 10% at 5.69 million teu.

However, while increased tariffs on Chinese imports are now paused until 10 November, from 14 October shipping companies will face additional port from the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Chinese built and owned vessels calling at US ports.