In the US importers and their logistics providers are preparing for further US-China tariffs and a possible fresh rush to front-load deliveries to beat the next tariff deadline, after the US confirmed its intention to impose 25% duties on further US$300 billion of products imported annually from China.

As Lloyd's Loading List reports, The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has called for comments by 17 June on its new list of products. It said: “The proposed modification is to take further action in the form of an additional ad valorem duty of up to 25% on products of China with an annual trade value of approximately $300 billion.”

Representatives of US importers warned that it was impossible for companies to switch their sourcing of products from China to other countries in the short term, with sourcing decisions taking time to make and with other countries lacking the necessary manufacturing and logistics capacity that China has.

Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF), said retailers were considering a “longer-term play about diversifying the supply chain and maybe moving some of the supply capacity in other places”. But he added: “The issue is there’s no new China.

For further analysis of the US-China tariff click here and for a study on its impact on the US.