Import volumes at major US container ports are expected to see a sustained increase well into the following spring as potential strike threat looms and tariffs increase under President-elect Donald Trump.

Last month, Trump said he plans to sign an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all goods coming from China, Mexico and Canada. 

Negotiations have stalled between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the US Maritime Alliance, raising the spectre of a strike upon the expiration of the current contract extension on 15 January—a stopgap measure following a three-day strike in October.  

In response, last week saw the NRF spearheading an appeal from various trade groups urging both sides to resume talks. Concurrently, President-elect Trump has voiced his intention to raise tariffs across a broad spectrum after assuming office on 20 January. 

NRF supply chain and customs policy vice president Jonathan Gold said: “Either a strike or new tariffs would be a blow to the economy and retailers are doing what they can to avoid the impact of either for as long as they can.  

“We hope that both can be avoided, but bringing in cargo early is a prudent step to mitigate the impact on our industry, consumers and the nation’s economy. We call on both parties at the ports to return to the table, get a deal done and avoid a strike. And we call on the incoming administration to use tariffs in a strategic manner rather than a broad-based approach impacting everyday consumer goods.” 

While figures for November have yet to be disclosed, projections estimate that ports handled approximately 2.17 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) during that month—a robust year-over-year rise of 14.4%, according to the Global Port Tracker report jointly published by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. |

In response, last week saw the NRF spearheading an appeal from various trade groups urging both sides to resume talks. Concurrently, President-elect Trump has voiced his intention to raise tariffs across a broad spectrum after assuming office on 20 January. 

NRF supply chain and customs policy vice president Jonathan Gold said: “Either a strike or new tariffs would be a blow to the economy and retailers are doing what they can to avoid the impact of either for as long as they can.  

“We hope that both can be avoided, but bringing in cargo early is a prudent step to mitigate the impact on our industry, consumers and the nation’s economy. We call on both parties at the ports to return to the table, get a deal done and avoid a strike. And we call on the incoming administration to use tariffs in a strategic manner rather than a broad-based approach impacting everyday consumer goods.” 

While figures for November have yet to be disclosed, projections estimate that ports handled approximately 2.17 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) during that month—a robust year-over-year rise of 14.4%, according to the Global Port Tracker report jointly published by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. 

By Just Style