Tariff ‘Earthquake’ Sends Shipping Industry Into Crisis Mode (2)

Global shipping executives gathered this week in Long Beach, California, for a major annual conference, expecting to discuss market trends and supply chain challenges.

Instead, they found themselves in crisis mode.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump upended decades of mostly free trade with the two biggest US trading partners, slapping 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. The White House also layered another 10% duty on China on top of an identical hike a month before.

The move sent shock waves through global trade, igniting fears of recession, skyrocketing consumer prices and logistical chaos. While beefing up ...