U.S. Import Freight Rates Continue to Rise Following Temporary China Tariff Reduction
Although tariffs on Chinese imports are still at 30%, the temporary tariff reduction has triggered an increase in transpacific shipping volumes and rates. Conditions now resemble typical peak seasons.
U.S. import freight rates are rising further in June, following an initial 90-day tariff reprieve between the U.S. and China announced by Executive Order on May 12, 2025.
The reduction in tariffs has triggered a rush of shipments into U.S. ports, driving up shipping rates and raising the cost of importing goods from China into the U.S.
This temporary relief has encouraged importers to act quickly, but the cost burden remains substantial. The tariff rate on Chinese goods currently stands at 30%, which includes a 10% reciprocal tariff and a 20% fentanyl-related tariff.
Container bookings from China to the U.S. surged nearly 300% in just one week, and as demand increased, so did U.S. import freight rates.
Last week, the World Container Index reported a significant 41% increase week-on-week, bringing the average cost of a 40-foot container to $3,527.
Rates on the Shanghai–Los Angeles route climbed 57% to reach $5,876 per container, while rates to New York rose 39% to reach $7,164 per 40-foot container.
Albeit high, these shipping rates are still lower than last year’s high-season rates, which were $8,000 to the U.S. West Coast and more than $9,800 per 40-foot container to the East Coast.
Another shipping rate increase—which could reach $8,500 per container—is anticipated by June 15.
The recent tariff cutback has created a surge in shipping demand along the transpacific route.
Maersk, a major player in container shipping on this route, has already experienced a rise in bookings shortly after the announcement.
Peak season conditions are arriving weeks earlier than usual, as shippers race to move cargo from Asia to North America before the end of the temporary tariff reduction period in mid-August.
Goods must depart Asia by mid-July to ensure arrival before this deadline.
This urgency has driven a booking frenzy and set off a “hard-to-book-a-ship” phenomenon that is straining capacity and timelines.
After months of instability in transpacific trade, carriers are now working to restore some of their networks.
Last April, the value of shipments from China to the U.S. dropped by 21% compared to April 2024.
During the same period, China–U.S. trade volumes fell by 60%, which led to widespread blank sailings.
This decline was followed by a surge in demand, and some ocean carriers are now reactivating their services and transpacific routes.
Zim is resuming its express China–Los Angeles route, MSC will launch weekly sailings to Long Beach beginning June 9, and the Premier Alliance is reinstating its PS5 service—with the first vessel departing Qingdao on June 6.
Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk have also introduced a new transpacific service as part of the Gemini network, MSC is deploying larger vessels to accommodate growing demand, and CU Lines is re-entering the transpacific market.
However, restoring full capacity will not have an immediate effect, and it could take over a month to fully reestablish networks.
Increasing import freight rates can make it harder for businesses to meet delivery deadlines and maintain competitive pricing.
Moreover, there is still uncertainty about whether import freight rates will stabilize or rise further.
To ensure business continuity, we recommend that you book your shipments early, explore alternative routes, and work with a trusted freight forwarding company to manage your costs and timelines.
At Cole International, we offer freight forwarding solutions to help streamline your import operations—from origin to destination.
Additionally, our customs and compliance consulting and customs brokerage services are designed to help you navigate changing market conditions, simplify every step of the import process, and ensure your full compliance.
Please reach out to one of our trade professionals to discuss your best freight forwarding options right now and how we can help you.