Ocean freight rates have declined as tariff uncertainty freezes import demand. The U.S. Trade Representative’s launch of public hearings for the 60-nation forced labor tariffs has signaled a new double-digit baseline duty structure. This has forced close trading partners like Canada and Cambodia to rapidly rewrite their domestic import laws to claim U.S. compliance exemptions.
China-US Ocean Freight Market
According to Freight Right’s TrueFreight Index, spot rates eased this week, falling from the mid-$7,000 range to the mid-$6,000 range. Carriers have reintroduced fixed-rate space and special-rate allocations, bringing pricing down by approximately $1,000 per container from the early July peak.
Despite the lower pricing, booking volumes remain soft as many importers continue delaying shipments while waiting for greater clarity on U.S. tariff policy. Importers can find spot rates as low as $4,680 from China to the U.S. West Coast and $6,700 from China to the U.S. East Coast.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
