The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of Americans in so many ways, and brought to national attention the vulnerability of the maritime supply chain. Consumers confined to their homes pivoted from the purchase of services to durable goods and home improvements, straining “just in time” inventories, spiking demand for container and vessel space, and disrupting the normal ebb and flow of shipping containers and chassis.

Since well before the November 6 election, President-elect Trump and his team have been discussing the imposition of tariffs on certain trade partners. The scope of possibilities range from all imports being subject to a 10% to 20% additional tariff, to the imposition of a 60% tariff on imports from China, to tariffs on vehicles from Mexico reaching as high as 100% to 200%.