Ships carrying more than 12,000 containers arrived at Los Angeles and Long Beach just 48 hours after duties took effect.
Retailers like Amazon, Home Depot and Ikea must now decide whether to swallow surcharges or hike prices.
Pre-Priced Contracts Leave Importers Exposed
Many orders were inked months ago, locking merchants into margins that no longer exist.
Analysts warn store shelves could thin by summer as buyers pause re-stocking.
Diplomatic Hopes but No Quick Fix
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans Swiss talks with Chinese counterparts within two weeks.
President Trump floated trimming tariffs to 80 percent if Beijing agrees to expedited trade concessions.
Logistics Providers Brace for Cancellations
Ocean carriers report a spike in blank sailings on Asia-U.S. lanes as shippers recalculate landed costs.
Warehousing firms say demand for East Coast storage is rising as companies hedge West Coast congestion.
Consumer-Price Ripple Effects
Economists at UCLA predict the tariff could add 0.4 percentage points to headline inflation by September.
Hard-goods retailers are most at risk, while domestic manufacturers could benefit from reduced foreign competition.
Medium-Term Outlook
If talks falter, some importers may near-shore production to Mexico or automate domestic facilities.
Others will lobby for product-specific exclusions mirroring 2019 precedent.