By Maria Kalamatas
Long Beach, CA —
The reintroduction of sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods by the United States is already triggering measurable disruption across major Pacific ports, signaling a return to congestion and unpredictability that haunted the supply chain during the pandemic years.
Within three weeks of the April 15 announcement, container volumes at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach dropped by 11%, while dwell times for rerouted cargo to Canada’s Prince Rupert and Mexico’s Lázaro Cárdenas increased by 36% due to overstretched inland transport networks.
Strategic retaliation, tactical consequences
“This is not just policy—it’s a trigger event for the entire global logistics system,” said Elaine Chow, Senior Trade Analyst at Freight Policy Institute. “The tariffs themselves are just one part. The bigger issue is how shippers, freight forwarders, and even customs brokers respond with drastic route and port changes.”
Major carriers including Hapag-Lloyd and ONE have issued advisories, noting surcharges for eastbound trans-Pacific lanes due to “volatility in port capacity and rebalancing of vessel allocation.”
Importers shift to Southeast Asia, but capacity lags
U.S. retailers and electronics importers are accelerating diversification away from China. However, port infrastructure in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand is under strain. “We’re seeing container rollovers jump 24% month-over-month at Laem Chabang and Tanjung Priok,” confirmed Prakash Dhir, APAC Director at CargoPulse Analytics.
Yet these changes aren’t translating into lower costs. A 40-foot container from Jakarta to New York now averages $6,450—up from $4,800 in early March.
Forwarders brace for complexity, delays
Logistics providers are urging clients to plan with extended lead times and build flexibility into routings. “We’re advising clients to add up to 10 days buffer per shipment,” said Erin Katz, COO of NexRoute Global. “We’re also seeing renewed demand for nearshoring options—Mexico, Eastern Europe, even Morocco.”
A fragile calm before peak season
With back-to-school and holiday shipping periods approaching, industry leaders fear the current disruptions could escalate. “If diplomatic tensions worsen or China retaliates, we could see a repeat of 2021,” warned Chow. “Ports are more prepared now—but not immune.”
