The first boats carrying Chinese products with 145% prices arrive in Los Angeles. Expeditions are reduced in two. Expect shortages soon

Cnn
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American consumers are at the dawn of difficult choices due to President Donald Trump's trade war.

Ships that are now shooting in the American ports of China are the first to be subjected to the massive prices that America impose on most Chinese imports. This means that in a few weeks, consumers will face prices and higher shortages of certain articles.

Imports from China have fallen considerably since Trump imposed high prices-especially since last month, when the Tit-For-Tat trade war sent the price on most Chinese products up to 145%.

“This week, we are down approximately 35% compared to the same time last year, and these future cargoos are the first to be attached to the prices that were taken from China and other places last month,” said Geneka, executive director of the Los Angeles on Tuesday. “This is why the volume of freight is so light.”

The drop in imports from China on boats that now arrives in the port is more than 50%, said Seroka. Many importers have canceled previous orders because US companies are not interested in paying the high price, which may more than double the price of Chinese products.

The port of it expected that 80 ships arrive in May, but 20% of these were canceled, said Seroka. Customers have already canceled 13 navigations for June.

“And you still don't know how long it will last,” warned Seroka. “Retailers and importers tell me that the products are now cost approximately twice and a half more than last month.”

Shortages and price increases

Rather than importing goods in the United States, some retailers choose to pay to store their products in Chinese warehouses, because it is cheaper than paying the price, according to Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport, a logistics and freight transfer broker. With importers and retailers who did not want to pay the high cost, deliveries could continue to drop – up to 60%, Petersen said. Consumers will begin to notice very soon.

“A 60% drop in containers means 60% of things in less arrival,” Petersen told Pamela Brown on Tuesday. “This is only a matter of time before selling via the existing inventory, then you will see shortages. And that's when you see price increases. ”

Imports to the United States during the second half of 2025 should drop by at least 20% from one year to the next, according to the National Federation of Retail. The drop in China will be even more striking: JP Morgan expects a drop of 75% to 80% of imports from there.

Meanwhile, Americans continue to buy goods that were previously stored in the United States. But these stocks are starting to run out.

“If it lasts a few more weeks, (retailers) will sell through this inventory and in summer, you will have shortages and empty shelves,” Petersen told CNN last week.

Seroka does not expect completely empty shelves – but he predicts that customers will have less selection.

“So, if you are looking for a certain type of pants, you can find all kinds of pants, but not the type you want. And the type you want….

Storage increased the American trade deficit more than expected in March, expanding it to a record of 140.5 billion dollars while companies have raised materials, supplies and consumer goods before most of Trump's prices.

“Companies have placed the front loading orders for the first quarter for consumer goods and capital goods (among others) before the release day on April 2,” Daniel Vielhaber, economist in Nationwide, in a note to customers on Tuesday. “However, with the new prices now in place, we are looking for a change in inflation, adding a headwind to already slow down consumer activity and economic growth.”

Despite the swell of the new prices in April, economists predict that the sharp increase in imports will continue for at least a few more weeks while the last expeditions that were on the water before the announcement of Trump's “Liberation Day” prices did not arrive at the port.

“The goods will enter the outdoor country if they were loaded on a ship at the departure port or on the way to the United States before the price of pricing and are received before May 27,” Wells Fargo economists wrote in a note to investors on Tuesday. “This gives companies a little more time to obtain products before the prices and suggests that we can see a last effort in April data. But beyond, we expect the trade to slow down materially. ”

Correction: an earlier version of this story indicated to incorrect the capacity of container ships from China. The goods shipped from China to the port of the have been reduced by half, but many boats themselves have been adequately garnished with containers from China and elsewhere.