Trump’s China Tariffs Disrupt Shipping and Air Cargo, Ending Duty-Free Allowance as Shipments Plummet

The tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump on China have caused widespread disruptions in global shipping and trade, with effects comparable to those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. China's air cargo sector has been particularly affected, especially due to the elimination of a duty-free allowance for small packages, a benefit that had been vital to e-commerce platforms. These trade measures have not only unsettled Wall Street but are now directly impacting the flow of packages between the two countries. The consequences of this trade conflict are expected to become more pronounced in the United States as shipments from China decline sharply, coinciding with the expiration of a key loophole on small packages.