Global shipping is slowing a month after President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” escalation of the trade war. Georgia companies, workers and consumers could soon feel that softening.
While the state’s trucking industry isn’t “seeing anything ground shaking yet, I think we’re starting to see some ripples,” Seth Millican, president and CEO of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“But I think probably in another two to three weeks,” he said, “those ripples are going to start turn into waves.”
Those sentiments are shared by trade-related industry professionals across the state, from retailers and logistics pros to ports officials and dockworkers. Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all imports on April 5 and has since enacted a minimum 145% duty onmost Chinese goods. Canada and Mexico also face steep levies, some of which are on pause. Foreign autos face a 25% tariff, though Trump relaxed import taxes on certain auto parts in recent days.
Those actions are now being felt at the top of the international freight pipeline: The trade war has already caused many maritime shippers to pause or cancel upcoming shipments.