Urgent Advice on the China Situation
Your current options considering the developing trade war with China
Shipping From China
For now, it is recommended to hold back bookings if you cannot absorb the 104% or 125% tariff.
Any shipment that departed before today (yesterday in China) will not be subject to any of these tariffs except the 20% (and the appropriate duty and section 301 tariff)
If you need to ship for whatever reason, or you know that you can still remain profitable (at least to your standards), here is what you need to know.
The first 20% that the China tariff consists of is not refundable via duty drawback. Whatever money you paid or will pay in the coming weeks until the situation de-escalates will not be eligible for duty drawback.
However, it might be eligible for post summary correction and protest. Customs has not issued guidance on that.
For the remaining 34% that increased to 84%, and that now increased (according to Truth Social by the president) to 105%, it will be eligible for duty drawback and probably post summary correction.
The Rest Of The World
According to the same Truth Social, the rest of the world will have a 90-day pause for the added reciprocal tariff, but the baseline 10% will remain.
What That Means For You
If you withhold from shipping until things cool down, you are the safest.
If you need to ship but do not need the goods, you can get them into an FTZ until things cool down.
If you need the goods and will end up paying whatever exorbitant amount in tariff, know that most of it will be eligible for a refund.
What To Do Now
After numerous calls with many of you, I have compiled a comprehensive guide that gives you actionable advice to take today to stay afloat and prepare for whatever tariffs may come your way.
Ironically, I called it “The Art of the Deal”—after all, that’s what Trump is using for his play.
Ready for Shipping Support that’s Actually Helpful?
If you found this information valuable, imagine what we can do when we’re handling your freight. At Simple Forwarding, we don’t just give advice – we make shipping smoother, customs simpler, and delays less likely.
Get in touch today and let’s talk about how we can take the stress out of your logistics.
