Trump’s Tariffs Trigger Widespread Decline in U.S. Export Activity

The Trump administration’s latest trade tariffs are starting to bite—and not in a good way. What began as a dip in imports is now a full-blown collapse in exports, with nearly every major U.S. port reporting double-digit drops. Agricultural producers are among the hardest hit, with key exports like soybeans, corn, and beef piling up as orders vanish. The Port of Portland is down 51%, Tacoma by 28%, and even top ag-export hub Savannah has slid 13%, according to new supply chain data from Vizion.

U.S. businesses have been canceling orders with overseas partners, especially in China, sending container volumes into a tailspin. The week ending April 28 saw a stunning 43% drop in inbound shipments. That means one thing: products that were supposed to arrive in May and June simply aren’t coming. As supply chains grind to a halt, retailers are quietly warning shoppers to buy now—or risk seeing empty shelves and higher prices by summer. Bank of America data already shows inventories are thinner than usual, just as holiday-season orders would typically be ramping up.

The pinch is especially brutal for small and mid-sized companies, many of which can’t afford the double-digit price hikes that tariffs have introduced. Goods that once moved smoothly across borders are now logjammed, and many businesses are pausing shipments altogether. With fewer containers arriving and even fewer leaving, the entire logistics ecosystem—dock workers, truckers, rail, and port operators—is facing a wave of underemployment. As one freight exec put it: this isn’t about moving more stuff, it’s about surviving with what you’ve got.

With June seen as the make-or-break point for holiday inventory planning, logistics leaders are urging brands to act fast. DHL’s CEO Tim Robertson warned that those who fail to lock in freight capacity now will be scrambling come November. “It’s not about extra volume,” he said, “it’s about sequencing.” But sequencing becomes guesswork when global supply chains are in flux. Add in Matson’s 30% year-over-year volume drop and you get the picture: the U.S. export engine isn’t just stalling—it’s dangerously close to seizing up.