US tariffs spark shipping surge, volatility at West Coast ports

Port of Vancouver expecting normal activity in the weeks ahead, despite end to tariff reprieve After a jump in containerized shipping volumes between 2023 and 2024, North America's West Coast ports are seeing cargo activity shift amid uncertainty caused by sweeping U.S. tariffs and global responses to aggressive trade action. U.S. President Donald Trump's 90-day reprieve from 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports initially produced a short-lived cargo surge, as American importers looked to stock their shelves. That grace period is set to expire July 9. Maritime and shipping and consultancy firm Drewry said June 12 that, in the…