Trump’s aggressive trade policies reshape global supply chains

America’s major container ports are bracing for their worst performance since the COVID-19 pandemic, with import cargo volumes expected to plummet 5.6% in 2025 as the Trump administration’s aggressive tariff policies fundamentally disrupt international trade flows.

The stark projections, released in the latest Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, reveal a supply chain under unprecedented strain.

After a temporary surge to 2.3 million TEUs in July as retailers rushed to import goods ahead of August’s tariff implementation, US ports now face a devastating contraction that will extend through the remainder of the year.