we’ll explore what these tariff changes mean, how they affect air and ocean freight, the repercussions on ecommerce fulfillment, and how shippers can adapt.
As of April 2025, global trade dynamics have been shaken by a sweeping set of U.S. tariff measures issued under executive authority. At the center of this development are a 10% global tariff, reciprocal tariffs reaching as high as 54% on some Chinese goods, and a significant change to the U.S. de minimis threshold for imports.
At Daguer Logistics, we’re already helping clients recalibrate their logistics, sourcing, and fulfillment strategies to stay compliant, cost-effective, and resilient during these changes. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore what these tariff changes mean, how they affect air and ocean freight, the repercussions on ecommerce fulfillment, and how shippers can adapt.
Beginning April 5, 2025, all goods entering the U.S. not already in transit will face an additional 10% ad valorem tariff, unless otherwise exempt. This includes most countries except those specifically targeted under separate reciprocal tariffs.
"All articles imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10 percent... on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT, April 5, 2025."
Starting April 9, 2025, reciprocal tariffs apply to nearly 60 countries based on the trade imbalance each has with the U.S. Notably:
· China: 34% (combined with earlier 20% tariff = 54% total base rate)
· Vietnam: 46%
· India: 27%
· Bangladesh: 37%
· Cambodia: 49%
Additional tariffs on top of previous rounds make these the most severe duties imposed since the original 2018 Trump trade war.
Ongoing tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automotive imports continue, including:
· 25% on automotive goods from April 3
· Stacking of tariffs not allowed — only the highest applies
· Steel and aluminum retain existing tariff structures, not subject to new 10% or reciprocal rates
USMCA Exemptions
· Canada and Mexico are exempt from both global and reciprocal tariffs for all USMCA-covered goods. Automotive tariffs apply only to the non-U.S. content of vehicles from these countries.
The de minimis exemption lets imports under $800 enter the U.S. duty-free, with limited documentation. It’s widely used for ecommerce shipments, particularly low-value parcels from Chinese platforms.
New Rule: Ends May 2, 2025Effective May 2, Chinese goods will no longer qualify for de minimis entry:
· Full customs clearance and duties apply to every shipment
· Shippers using postal service will pay 30% tariff or $25 per parcel (rising to $50 by June 1)
· Applies to all low-value ecommerce parcels from China
Daguer Logistics offers support in adapting fulfillment flows to mitigate these impacts, including strategic warehousing, U.S. inventory storage, and regional sourcing.
· Cancelled BSAs and charters for China-U.S. lanes
· Rate spikes expected from last-minute shipments before May 2
· Volumes expected to collapse after de minimis ends
· Rates may surge in late April, then drop sharply in May
· Delays possible due to CBP overwhelmed by formal entries
· Air carriers may shift capacity away from U.S.-China
Daguer Logistics offers multimodal solutions to help you reroute urgent inventory to Mexico or U.S.-based warehouses to avoid these disruptions.
· Goods not loaded by April 9 will face reciprocal tariffs
· Ocean carriers see demand surge in early April
· Potential slowdown in May–June as inventories stabilize
· Expect brief rate increases, followed by declines
· Peak season slowdown likely
· Carriers facing overcapacity and fierce pricing competition
We help shippers front-load inventory and find alternative sourcing strategies to reduce exposure to volatile ocean shipping costs.
With tariffs hitting nearly all major Asian exporters, China+1 strategies are no longer safe havens:
· Vietnam: 46%
· Bangladesh: 37%
· India: 27%
· Cambodia: 49%
For businesses looking to diversify supply chains, Daguer Logistics recommends leveraging nearshoring to Mexico and U.S.-based warehousing for time-sensitive goods.
· Los Angeles
· Dallas
· New Jersey
Our facilities are optimized for import, transload, and distribute operations from all major North American ports.
To avoid costly penalties, every shipment must now meet stricter formal entry requirements. That means:
· Accurate Commercial Invoices
· Valid Packing Lists
· Proper Bill of Lading and HTS classification
· Full Import Security Filing (ISF) for ocean freight
Daguer Logistics handles all customs clearance and document compliance in-house or through certified broker partnerships.
Many goods now face multiple overlapping tariffs. For example:
· Chinese apparel: 54% base rate
· Add industry-specific or retaliation tariffs
· Potentially exceeding 70% total duty
Copper, pharma, semiconductors, and critical minerals are not yet subject to the new tariffs — but may be soon.
The EU, China, Canada, and Japan are already preparing to retaliate. New tariffs on U.S. exports could dampen outbound freight and trigger more rounds of trade disruption.
Because the administration has linked tariff reductions to foreign trade concessions, the rules can change at any time, complicating long-term contracts.
Daguer Logistics provides ongoing tariff monitoring, trade advisory services, and flexible contract structures to help you remain agile.
· Warehousing in North America to mitigate Chinese sourcing costs
· Integrated customs compliance and ISF filing services
· Pre-clearance and smart labeling for low-value ecommerce parcels
· Freight consolidation and transloading to cut last-mile delivery costs
· Inventory planning to avoid last-minute air or ocean rate spikes
· End-to-end visibility from origin to final-mile delivery
We serve hundreds of ecommerce and wholesale customers importing into the U.S. and Canada. Whether you're shipping FCL, LCL, or parcel, we’re equipped to optimize your supply chain around new trade realities
The trade landscape has shifted once again, this time with broader scope and more complexity. For importers, ecommerce sellers, and manufacturers, the key to survival is adaptability.
At Daguer Logistics, we’re not just a 3PL, we’re your trade strategy partner. From helping you secure inventory ahead of tariff hikes to offering scalable warehousing and compliance solutions, we ensure your business keeps moving no matter what.
Let’s talk today about preparing your logistics strategy for the new trade order.
No. As of May 2, 2025, all Chinese goods lose de minimis eligibility and must go through formal customs clearance.
Not entirely. These countries are also subject to reciprocal tariffs (Vietnam: 46%, India: 27%).
Work with Daguer Logistics to warehouse inventory in the U.S., shift production to Mexico, or front-load orders before tariff deadlines.
Yes, temporarily. After an April surge, volumes may fall, lowering spot rates. But long-term trends depend on consumer demand and trade stability.
Absolutely. We offer complete documentation, ISF filing, HTS classification, and brokerage coordination.
