U.S. tariff policies are changing, logistics and trade are deeply affected

Recently, the frequent changes in US tariff policies have been like a sudden storm, which not only caused huge waves in the international logistics field, but also had a profound impact on local trade. The root of this storm lies in the fact that the US government has frequently wielded tariff "sticks" on its major trading partners in order to safeguard its own interests, which triggered a series of chain reactions. Since the beginning of 2025, the US tariff policy has undergone many major adjustments, and these actions of the US government have undoubtedly brought huge uncertainty to the global market.

The tariff superposition effect significantly pushes up the prices of cross-border commodities, thereby increasing the operating costs of logistics companies. According to JPMorgan's calculations, global logistics costs may increase by 15%-20%. This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to cross-border logistics companies that rely on the US market.

Routes that rely partly on the U.S. market may face the problem of overcapacity due to the decline in cargo volume. At the same time, emerging market routes may have tight cabin spaces, forcing logistics companies to adjust their route layout to cope with market changes.

Frequent changes in tariff policies have led to a surge in US customs declarations and an increase in inspection rates, thus extending the retention time of goods. This not only affects the performance of logistics companies, but also increases additional customs clearance costs.

Under the pressure of tariff policies, cross-border e-commerce supply chains have to be integrated and upgraded to adapt to the new market environment. Compliance, localization and refined operational capabilities have become the key to the enterprise's time-travel cycle.

The imposition of tariffs by the United States has directly pushed up the cost of imported goods, making consumers have to bear higher prices when purchasing imported goods. This not only harms the interests of consumers, but may also curb consumer demand, which in turn affects the prosperity of the local market.

The U.S. tariff policy has attracted countermeasures from relevant countries, leading to aggravation of international trade tensions. These countermeasures not only affect the U.S. trade relations with these countries, but may also have an impact on U.S. export markets.

Frequent changes in tariff policies have exacerbated uncertainty in the global economy, making it difficult for companies and investors to make long-term plans. This uncertainty may lead to a decrease in investment and weak consumption, which will negatively affect the U.S. economy.

The United States' unilateral tariff imposition is blatantly violating multilateral trade rules and weakening the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system. This not only harms the stability and development of the global economy, but may also trigger the rise of trade protectionism.

The frequent changes in US tariff policies have undoubtedly put a cloud on the recent international trade market. Shipping Weekly analyzed that the stability and development of the multilateral trading system are crucial to the prosperity of the global economy. In the short term, the impact of frequent changes in US tariff policies may be reflected in problems such as soaring logistics costs, route adjustments and overcapacity, reduced customs clearance efficiency, and increased costs of imported goods. In the long run, these changes will prompt companies and investors to re-examine the global supply chain layout and promote supply chain integration and upgrading to adapt to the new market environment.