If you've been shipping containers into the U.S. over the past few months, you've probably felt it: the scramble, the squeezed capacity, the rising rates, and the nagging feeling that you were racing against a clock you couldn't quite see.
Well, the clock finally struck midnight.
On Friday, July 24, President Donald Trump's temporary 10% global tariff - in place since February under Section 122 of the Trade Act - officially expired. And right on cue, a new tariff regime took its place: 10% and 12.5% duties on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The new duties cover a staggering 99.4% of all U.S. imports. Goods already in transit were given a brief reprieve until July 28, but make no mistake - the tariff wall is back, and it's built to last.
The Record-Breaking Rush That Preceded It
For months, U.S. importers had been frontloading like never before. And the numbers are nothing short of extraordinary.
According to the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, U.S. container imports are projected to hit 2.47 million TEU in July - a 3.3% increase year-over-year and a new all-time monthly record, surpassing the previous high of 2.4 million TEU set in May 2022 during the post-pandemic import surge. The first half of 2026 is expected to total 12.77 million TEU, up 2% from the same period in 2025.
The Port of Los Angeles handled over one million TEUs in June - its busiest June on record - with imports climbing 13% year-over-year. Neighboring Long Beach wasn't far behind, processing 779,331 TEUs, up 10.6%.
"This year's early peak season is expected to continue through July as retailers and other importers prepare for potentially higher tariffs beginning in August and other trade uncertainties," said Jonathan Gold, NRF's vice president for supply chain and customs policy.
But Here's the Catch
That frantic frontloading? It worked - for those who got their goods in before the deadline. But now that the new tariffs are live, the landscape has shifted dramatically.
The freight market is already showing signs that the early peak season is winding down. The Drewry World Container Index fell 4% this week to $4,374 per 40-foot container, marking a second consecutive weekly decline. And Xeneta expects global average spot rates for 2026 to fall by up to 25%, with long-term freight rates declining by around 10% amid subdued demand.
In other words: the rush is over. And for shippers who didn't get their cargo in before the deadline - or who are now trying to figure out what comes next - the uncertainty is just beginning.
Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba put it bluntly: "Businesses are preparing for volatility, not certainty".
This Is Exactly When Experience Matters Most
At Xiamen AE Global, we've been navigating this kind of chaos since 2018. We're a government-licensed company with IATA, FIATA, FMC, and NVOCC credentials - which means when trade policies shift overnight, we have the global network and the relationships to keep your cargo moving.
We work with over 100 overseas agents worldwide. That's not just a number on a website - it's a web of real relationships we can tap into when things get complicated. When tariffs change, when routes get disrupted, when your container needs to find a new way into the U.S., we don't scramble. We pick up the phone and call our partners.
Real Visibility in a World of Uncertainty
We've invested heavily in technology that gives our clients actual transparency - not just a tracking number that sits there while your cargo waits somewhere. When a tariff deadline looms or a new duty regime takes effect, we don't wait for you to find out the hard way. We alert you immediately and present options. Reroute through a different port? Expedite a shipment before the next deadline hits? Adjust your supply chain strategy for the new tariff landscape? We've got the data and the experience to make those calls quickly.
Local Knowledge, Global Reach
Based in Xiamen - one of Asia's busiest port cities - we combine the global reach of an IATA and FIATA-approved forwarder with the local knowledge of a partner who's been shipping all kinds of goods for over a decade. We've moved over 12,000 TEUs in a single year with a 98.6% on-time delivery rate for our SME clients. That's not luck. It's relentless execution and a network that doesn't fall apart when the market gets complicated.
The Bottom Line
The tariff rush of July 2026 is over. The record-breaking imports are in the books. But the new tariff regime is here to stay - and more changes are likely coming. The U.S. has already launched a second investigation into "excess capacity" that is likely to result in additional tariffs.
For shippers, that means one thing: volatility isn't going away.
At Xiamen AE Global, we don't just move boxes. We turn trade policy chaos into predictable outcomes. Because when the tariff landscape shifts overnight, what you really need isn't a news alert - it's a partner who knows how to keep your cargo moving.
Ready to navigate the new tariff landscape with a partner who's got your back? Contact Xiamen AE Global today for smart, flexible logistics solutions that keep your cargo moving - no matter what Washington throws at it.
