The chart that shows how companies are trying to overcome the Chinese Trump War

the Trump The latest escalation of management in the trade war with China has attracted several assets to its assets in 2018.

However, there is a big difference: the degree that American companies aspire to avoiding high tariffs The race to bring more and more products From China in front of them.

When comparing the peak of the front loading that occurred in 2018 compared to 2025, American trucks imported more than twice the percentage of Chinese export this year, according to import data.

To compare the differences, CNBC has used data from Importagenius dating back to 2016 before the Trump’s commercial war letter.

In 2025, there were three main events for the front loading as a result of changing definitions.

Before “Editing Day“The importers began to rush into containers from China starting from January, followed by a slight decrease in February and March. A second smaller front load occurred between March and April. The peak in shipping reached front from China to the United States between June to July, where exports increased by 49 % after tariff rates decreased to 34 %.

In 2018, the increase in shipping loading came in autumn: between September and October, where there was a 12.2 % increase in containers, and between October and November, there was an additional increase by 22 %.

But there are now signs that the level of exports from China began to decrease, which appears in the main shipping data such as ocean charging reservations and ocean container spot rates.

“The difference in exports from China to the United States between July and August this year is a 40 % decrease,” said Lin Hughes, ImportGenius investigation analyst. “Yes, the month has not ended yet, but realistically, we still have only a week. Given the amount of the demand that was already withdrawn forward at the beginning of the year and the steady decline, I feel about to start seeing imports decreases to less than 600,000 in line with them for several months.”

These orders enter the ports of the United States in July and August. Shipping orders in the ocean in July and August will start arriving in September and October.

The instant prices on the Transpacific Road have also decreased steadily, according to Drewry Maritime Data. Shanghai-Los Angeles rates decreased by 3 % (equivalent unit/412 dollars/forty feet), and the rate was reduced on the Shanghai-New York Road 5 % ($ 3463/FEU).

“The accelerated purchase phase by American retail dealers, which caused the early peak season, ended. In response to the US economy underdeveloped and increased customs tariff costs, they are now retreating from purchases. Hence, Drewry expects the point prices be less disabled in the coming weeks.”

Hughes said there is a four -month decrease in Chinese goods entering the United States, after the first event in the front. The pattern was also seen in many other front loading patterns. This includes after the front loading in February 2025, when the American trucks raced to pull the products forward before “Editing Day”.

“We know what these patterns look at shipping now, and this is the most unbalanced front height that we have ever seen,” Hughes said.