US importers, whip-sawed by tariff uncertainty, move to sidelines


Retailers from Nike to Best Buy are exposed to Trump’s trade war because they rely on key manufacturing hubs including China, Vietnam and Indonesia. — Reuters

LOS ANGELES: So many US companies rushed in goods to avoid President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs that imports soared to near-record levels in recent weeks. Now, retailers and other importers are hitting the brakes, awaiting clarity on where the new duties will land.

US import bookings on massive container ships dropped 64% from March 24-31 to April 1-8, the week when Trump announced “reciprocal” tariffs on a swath of countries, container-tracking software provider Vizion said.

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