Exporters to the United States are facing mounting difficulties as new tariff policies take effect, customs inspections intensify, and major fulfillment centers like Amazon and Walmart experience severe bottlenecks. Port congestion has reached critical levels, forcing businesses to adapt quickly to the changing landscape.
New Tariff Rules: Export Costs Surge
Goods exported to the U.S. now face significantly higher tariff barriers. A 20% additional tariff on Chinese exports applies to all shipments arriving on or after March 7, based on AMS system port arrival times. Steel and aluminum products face even steeper increases, with Section 232 tariffs standardized at 25% for all countries globally.
New supplemental tariffs for derivative steel and aluminum products await confirmation through official U.S. tariff schedule updates, scheduled to take effect at 12:01 AM EST on March 12, again based on AMS arrival times. Exporters must monitor U.S. Customs announcements closely to adjust their strategies accordingly.
Heightened Customs Scrutiny: Increased Risks for Misdeclaration
With tariff increases comes stricter customs enforcement, leading to substantially higher inspection rates. Key areas of concern include:
- Zero tolerance for counterfeit goods: Shipments containing infringing or imitation products may face full-container rejections or confiscations rather than partial releases.
- Crackdown on undervaluation: Customs is intensifying scrutiny of undervalued, misdeclared, or omitted declarations. Violations may result in immediate container rejections or seizures without opportunity for correction.
- Strict apparel documentation: Authentic documentation is now mandatory for clothing shipments. Failure to provide may lead to full-container rejections.
- High-risk categories: Children's products, infant items, toys, paints, perfumes, food products, footwear, apparel, and electronics face particular scrutiny.
Port-Specific Inspection Focus Areas:
- Baltimore: Random inspections emphasizing declared value and importer qualifications.
- New York: Random checks focusing on value, CPS (Child Product Safety), and FDA compliance.
- Detroit: Random inspections prioritizing declared value and importer credentials.
- Miami: Emphasis on value declarations, intellectual property violations, EPA and DOT compliance.
- Seattle: Random inspections delayed 2-3 weeks due to overwhelmed inspection stations.
- Norfolk: Sharply increased random inspection rates, focusing on value and importer qualifications.
Port Congestion: Container Handling Delays Worsen
Average container pickup and return times currently stand at approximately four days, with several ports experiencing more severe disruptions:
- Seattle: Terminal congestion has led to unavailable pickup appointments, non-extended LFD periods for containers in restricted zones, and unpredictable Monday/Friday closures. Severe shortages of appointments and chassis exacerbate delays.
- Tampa: Terminal congestion and chassis shortages result in over five-hour wait times, creating critical truck capacity shortages.
- Dallas: Rail yard chassis shortages prevent container pickups without bringing additional chassis.
- New York: Norfolk Southern rail yard shows increased seal-less containers and chassis shortages. APM empty return appointments remain exceptionally difficult for ZIM, WANHAI, CMA, and MSC shipments.
- Houston: Terminals intermittently refuse empty containers, increasing off-site returns.
- Chicago: Concentrated rail arrivals and chassis shortages require trucks to supply their own, particularly for 45-foot containers. Some containers show evidence of tampering and missing goods upon arrival.
Amazon Fulfillment: Rising Rejection Rates and Appointment Challenges
Amazon's shipment rejection rates continue climbing, posing significant threats to direct shippers. Strict compliance with packing guidelines is essential—avoid overloading, ensure dry and odor-free goods, and eliminate loose powders. Problematic warehouses include:
- POC1/2/3: Appointments unavailable.
- FTW5: Overcapacity leaves appointments pending.
- LGB8: High rejection rates due to congestion and staffing shortages; appointments backlogged two weeks.
- MCE1: Overcapacity delays appointments two weeks, though palletized shipments accepted.
- STL3: Overcapacity requires drop shipments with over five-day unloading.
- MCO2/SNA4: 90% rejection rates discourage direct shipments.
- XLX1: 80% rejection rates for loose cartons; palletization recommended.
- ABE8/IAH3: Overcapacity creates two-week appointment backlogs.
Average Wait Times for Direct Amazon Container Deliveries:
- MEM1: 12 hours
- IUSF: 15 hours
- CLT2: 12 hours
- LGB8: 16 hours
- STL3: 24 hours
- ILG1: 15 hours
- TEB4: 15 hours
- IAH3: 15 hours
- TEB3: 12 hours
- FTW5: Over 24 hours; post-drop unloading exceeds two days
- FTW1: 12 hours
- ORD2: Over 24 hours; post-drop unloading exceeds five days
- GYR3: 14 hours
Walmart Fulfillment: Drop Shipments Become Standard
Walmart warehouses increasingly mandate drop shipments for floor-loaded goods:
- MCI1n: Overcapacity extends post-drop unloading beyond seven days.
- MCO1s: Minimum three-day post-drop unloading.
- IND2n: Minimum five-day post-drop unloading.
- DFW2n: Approximately five-day post-drop unloading.
- LAX1/2: Minimum seven-day post-drop unloading.
- MEM1s: Approximately five-day post-drop unloading.
- ATL1/3: Approximately six-day post-drop unloading.
- PHL1: Currently accepts only palletized live unloads.
- PHL4/5: High-cost long-haul drops with over seven-day unloading; recommend deconsolidation.
- Los Angeles LAX1: Container losses reported; palletization advised over mandatory floor-load drops.
Current Port Congestion Status
- Los Angeles: Approximately two-day delays
- New York: Two-day terminal congestion; GLOBAL/APM pickup appointments constrained
- Oakland: Two-to-three-day delays
- Miami: Approximately two-day delays
- Norfolk: Approximately three-day delays
- Houston: Approximately two-day delays
- Chicago: Approximately two-day delays
- Canadian Transit: Average 10-day rail loading
- New York Transit: Average seven-day rail loading
- Kansas City: Approximately two-day delays
- Memphis: Approximately two-day delays
- Los Angeles Transit: Average 10-day rail loading
- El Paso: Approximately two-day delays
- Indianapolis: Approximately five-day delays
- Savannah: Over seven-day delays