Supply Chain Research

The strength of the American economy offset the impact of tariffs in October, with U.S. seaborne imports having surged 11.9% higher on a year earlier. That was the fastest rate of growth since March 2014 and was the result of a 16.1% surge in imports from China despite the imposition of 10% tariffs on $200 billion of products in late September. Economic growth was a major mitigating factor and can be seen in a 27.1% jump in imports from Vietnam and 25.8% from South Korea. Consumer products were the main driver of growth with imports of furniture up 14.7% and apparel by 19.7%. Industrial...