U.S.-China Tariff Truce Revives Shipping Market and Sparks Optimism Ahead of Peak Season

After a period of trade tension, a new agreement has brought renewed vitality to the shipping market between China and the United States.

On May 12, China and the U.S. reached a temporary agreement to mutually reduce punitive tariffs and issued a joint statement. According to the deal, the U.S. will reduce additional tariffs on Chinese products from 145% to 30%, while China will lower tariffs on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%.

Danish shipping giant Maersk is reassessing its U.S.-China route deployment. The company’s CEO recently stated that Maersk has cut capacity on the route by 20% over the past two weeks, redirecting resources to other markets. However, should customer demand rebound, the company can quickly restore capacity.

CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé welcomed the tariff “truce,” saying, “This is good news for CMA CGM,” during a hearing at the French Senate on Monday. “Since the crisis began, we’ve lost 50% of our U.S. business.”

German carrier Hapag-Lloyd also welcomed the agreement, noting in a statement that it expects a short-term increase in bookings from China to the U.S., which could help the company prepare for the upcoming peak shipping season.

The peak season typically runs from August to October, as U.S. retailers restock in preparation for major holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The tariff reduction may trigger an early surge in shipments this year.

For the industry as a whole, this temporary tariff relief feels like a sudden breather. But it also serves as a reminder to shipping companies that flexibility and resilience are crucial to navigating uncertainty and turning challenges into opportunities in a volatile trade landscape.