As the first wave of tariff-affected shipments nears U.S. shores, freight managers report noticeable shifts in supply chains. Nathan Strang, who oversees ocean freight at U.S. logistics firm Flexport, said many businesses are holding off on shipping goods, anticipating that a trade deal might soften the new duties, the FT reported.

Donald Trump’s trade war with Beijing is starting to affect the wider US economy as container port operators and air freight managers report sharp declines in goods transported from China. Logistics groups said container bookings to the US have fallen sharply since the introduction of 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports to the US.

Amid the ongoing trade war between the US and China, in which President Trump has imposed a massive 145% tariff on imports from China, ports across the United States are already beginning to see the impacts.