As of May 12, 2025, there’s a major plot twist in the ongoing U.S.–China trade war—and it’s good news (for now). In a surprise move, both nations announced a 90-day suspension and rollback of key tariffs, offering a much-needed breather for importers, exporters, and everyone in between.
At Best Yet Express, we’re already seeing early signs of impact across our warehouse and trucking operations in Southern California. Here’s a full breakdown of what’s happening, what it means for your freight, and how to plan ahead while this window of opportunity is open.
đź“° What Happened?
On May 12, officials from the United States and China jointly confirmed a temporary reduction in tariffs on a wide range of goods. Here are the headline changes:
- The U.S. will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% down to 30%
- China will cut tariffs on U.S. exports from 125% down to 10%
- The reductions are effective May 14 and will remain in place for 90 days
- Both sides are expected to resume formal negotiations during this time to avoid future escalations
This truce is meant to cool tensions, ease cost pressures on businesses, and open a path to a long-term deal. In the meantime, it’s triggering a rapid shift in freight planning and import strategy.
📦 What This Means for Your Shipping Operation
1. Inbound Freight Surge Is Coming
With tariffs temporarily lowered, importers are racing to bring in goods from China before the truce ends. This means we’re expecting a significant surge in container traffic at major ports—especially the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
If you’re planning to bring in inventory over the next 90 days, it’s critical to book trucking capacity early. Our dispatchers are already seeing a sharp uptick in requests.
Tip: Let us know if you’re anticipating increased volumes—we can secure your spot in advance and avoid delays.
2. Freight Rates Could Rise
With demand rising and capacity tightening, particularly for drayage and warehouse space, we anticipate a short-term increase in freight rates across the board. LTL, FTL, and intermodal may all see cost pressure in high-traffic zones.
If you’re working within a tight shipping budget, our team can help you consolidate loads, explore off-peak deliveries, or pre-stage inventory at our LA warehouse.
3. Warehousing Strategy Will Matter More Than Ever
Some customers are already asking: “Should I ship more now and store it to beat the next tariff wave?” In many cases, the answer is yes.
This temporary tariff rollback makes it an ideal time to bulk ship inventory, especially if you sell seasonal products or rely on just-in-time inventory. Our warehouse has flexible storage options and can support:
- Short-term and long-term storage
- Cross-docking and devanning
- Pick and pack services
- Real-time inventory management
We’ll make it easy to bring in your products now, store them safely, and ship them when you’re ready.
📉 What Happens After 90 Days?
📉 What Happens After 90 Days?This is the big question. There’s no guarantee that these lower tariffs will remain in place after the summer. If negotiations break down, both sides could reimpose full tariffs—or go even higher.
In other words: don’t count on this to last. This is the time to get smart, get strategic, and make moves while the lanes are open and costs are temporarily down.
âś… Our Recommendations for You
- Talk to Your Suppliers Now
Find out what products are affected, and determine what you can ship sooner to beat the next round of potential tariff hikes. - Book Trucking Early
As an asset-based carrier, we’re securing capacity now—but spots are filling fast. The earlier we know your needs, the better we can serve you. - Leverage Our Warehouse
Don’t pay more later. We offer scalable warehousing space in LA for your short-term or seasonal storage needs. - Stay in the Know
We’ll continue tracking updates on your behalf. If you’d like us to notify you of key changes or deadlines, let us know—we’ll keep you in the loop.
📲 Let’s Talk Strategy
The next few weeks could shape your bottom line for the rest of the year. Whether you’re a manufacturer, distributor, or brand moving consumer goods, we’re here to help you make the most of this 90-day window.
Need help evaluating your shipping plan or adjusting your imports?
Give us a call or shoot us a message. We’ll roll up our sleeves and walk you through your options—just like we’ve done for SoCal businesses since 1978.