Import Cargo Levels Expected to Surge During Pause in Tariff Increases

Import cargo at the nation’s major container ports is expected to see a surge through this summer as retailers take advantage of a 90-day reduction in tariffs that were recently imposed on China, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

According to NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold, many retailers suspended or canceled orders after the Trump administration announced a 145% tariff on China in April but have resumed imports after tariffs were reduced to 30% and a 90-day pause that will last until August 12 was announced.

Total Retail's Take: Retailers are busy preparing for the back-to-school and then end-of-year shopping seasons, and part of those preparations include ensuring they have adequate inventory levels to meet demand. Getting that inventory into their warehouses, distribution centers, and stores before tariffs increase later this summer is a top priority, according to the NRF data. This, of course, puts even greater emphasis on accurate demand forecasting, with retailers trying to limit out-of-stocks without creating overstocks that lead to margin-crushing discounting. To help improve the accuracy of their demand forecasting, retailers are increasingly using AI tools that incorporate vast datasets across multiple channels to provide a holistic measure of anticipated demand. Their are bottom line benefits to getting it right.