Tariffs take toll on U.S. imports from clothes to chemicals
The U.S.-China trade war is taking an increasing toll on U.S. imports. Seaborne imports from China fell 7.6% year over year in September, following a 4.6% slide in the prior three months. While shipments from Vietnam and India continued to improve, that couldn’t prevent total U.S. seaborne imports from falling 1.7% in September.

Consumer goods products are showing clear signs of tariff stress. Total U.S. imports of furniture fell 4.9% after tariff increases in May. Meanwhile shipments of apparel – where many products became subject to duties in September – increased by just 0.1% after a 7.5% rise in the prior three months.

The industrial sector has also continued to see lower imports with chemicals shipments down 9.9% in September compared to a year earlier. Capital goods have finally begun to reverse with a 4.4% drop following a 1.4% improvement in the prior three months.