Tariff Threat: Potential 100% Duty on All Imports from China

The global logistics industry is once again bracing for potential disruption after President Trump announced a proposed 100% tariff on all Chinese-origin imports. The move is being considered in response to China’s new export controls on rare earth minerals, which are critical to sectors such as renewable energy, automotive, and defense. While this proposal remains a threat for now, the administration has signaled a possible implementation date of November 1, 2025.

For importers, exporters, and supply-chain managers, the announcement introduces new uncertainty just as post–Golden Week shipping lanes begin to stabilize. At Radius International, our operations teams across the U.S. and Asia are closely monitoring the situation to help clients plan shipments, mitigate duty exposure, and maintain supply-chain continuity.

Freight and Market Conditions

Despite the policy uncertainty, ocean freight conditions have held steady in recent weeks:

  • Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI): Post–Golden Week, Asia–Europe lanes rose approximately $100 per TEU, while Trans-Pacific routes remained flat.

  • European Ports: Ongoing strikes in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Zeebrugge have created 2–3 day slowdowns, contributing to vessel bunching and minor schedule changes.

  • Carrier Updates: OOCL’s Q3 performance report reflected 0.7% global growth with rates up 8% from Q2, underscoring a gradual but cautious market recovery.

Radius International is in communication with our global network partners to maintain visibility across sailings and minimize disruption to clients’ freight schedules.

What This Means for Importers

If enacted, the proposed 100% tariff could impact all Chinese-origin goods, including consumer electronics, machinery, automotive components, furniture, textiles, and more.
For Radius clients, this could mean:

  • Increased landed costs and longer transit lead times.

  • Higher advance duty payments at entry.

  • Potential cargo congestion as importers expedite shipments ahead of tariff activation.

Radius recommends that importers begin reviewing open purchase orders and existing supply-chain commitments now. Our compliance specialists can assist in:

  • Conducting HTS code audits to confirm tariff classifications.

  • Exploring duty-mitigation strategies such as Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ), bonded warehousing, or tariff engineering.

  • Providing scenario forecasting for landed-cost adjustments and customer impact analysis.

  • Coordinating with origin partners to advance or delay shipments strategically based on tariff timing.

Radius International will continue to monitor official communications from:

  • The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • The White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy

Once official tariff language or implementation dates are released, Radius will publish a full breakdown outlining affected product categories, HTSUS chapters, and entry procedures to ensure importer compliance.