Full Breakdown
Record-Breaking Imports at the Port of Los Angeles Amid Ongoing US-China Trade Uncertainty
By Drooid · · How we work
Record-Breaking Quarter at the Port of Los Angeles
He noted that September imports from China rose 19 percent year-on-year, while overall exports grew 10 percent.
Trade Context and Recent US-China Agreements
Washington and Beijing have extended their Busan trade truce until January 10, 2027, pushing the original November 10 expiry back by two months and launching a Board of Trade mechanism that lists non-sensitive products worth up to US$30 billion for potential tariff reductions. The extension follows a summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump in Washington and precedes upcoming meetings at the APEC gathering in Shenzhen and the G20 summit in Miami.
Data Highlights
- US imports from China totalled US$308 billion in 2025, a decline of roughly 30 percent, according to the U.S. Trade Representative office.
- Imports from Vietnam rose 42 percent over the same period, underscoring a shift toward alternative sourcing.
- China remains the largest source of cargo through the Los Angeles port, though its share has fallen from about 60 percent in 2018 to a projected 40 percent in 2026.
Official Perspectives
Willy Shih, a professor at Harvard Business School, argued that while countries such as Vietnam and Mexico have seen “a lot of growth” in U.S. imports, they continue to rely on “Chinese intermediate goods.” He warned that the mismatch between Washington’s “transactional approach” and Beijing’s “strategic approach” leaves traders uncertain, emphasizing the need for a stable, long-term framework for planning.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People need a longer horizon where they can have some stable framework, a stable set of rules to engage in their planning,” — Willy Shih, a professor at Harvard Business School