US tariffs on Chinese goods rise to 145%, severely affecting container shipping; Nintendo resumes pre-orders for the new Switch and shifts its production to Vietnam.

Taiwan • Business • 04/20 22:55
US tariffs on Chinese goods rise to 145%, severely affecting container shipping; Nintendo resumes pre-orders for the new Switch and shifts its production to Vietnam.

In April 2025, the Trump administration in the United States increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, resulting in a significant drop in the volume of containers exported from China to the U.S. In March, container transport volume decreased by 11%, and booking volume dropped by 64% in the first week of April. In response to the temporary suspension of the U.S. reciprocal tariff policy, Nintendo resumed U.S. pre-orders for the Switch 2 on April 24 and prioritized supplying the U.S. market with products manufactured in Vietnam. U.S.-Japan trade negotiations progressed simultaneously, with Japan proposing to expand imports of American rice and relax automobile inspection standards to seek an exemption from the 24% reciprocal tariff.

Key Updates

04/21 22:31

In 2025, U.S. tariff policies trigger a capital shift: Foreign capital flows into Japanese government bonds, while the Japanese insurance industry sells off against the trend.

In March 2025, Trump administration's tariff policy caused global market fluctuations, leading international funds to pour into Japanese government bonds for safety. That month, foreign investors net bought over 10-year Japanese government bonds totaling 2.18 trillion yen, an all-time high. At the same time, Japanese insurance companies sold 645.8 billion yen of long-term government bonds due to asset adjustments ahead of the fiscal year-end. The yield on 30-year Japanese government bonds climbed to its highest point since 2006, highlighting shifts in market supply and demand and the contrasting reactions to market risk between foreign investors and domestic institutions.

04/21 19:00

In 2025, the US-China trade war escalated: Boeing faces setbacks, Airbus gains, and a buying spree in the US consumer market causes global market upheaval.

In April 2025, the US-China trade war escalated, and Boeing was forced to send back the 737 MAX aircraft intended for China to the United States due to punitive tariffs, which benefited Airbus in the Chinese market. The expectation of high tariffs sparked a buying frenzy among American consumers, resulting in a 1.4% increase in retail sales in March. Global stock markets were volatile, with significant capital movements in Asian stocks. The Chinese stock market showed little reaction, but GDP growth reached 5.4%, surpassing expectations and indicating short-term resilience.

04/21 15:02

Changes in China-US Trade Policies: Xiamen Airlines Sends Back Boeing 737 MAX; Boeing Seeks Malaysia Airlines to Take Over the Aircraft

In April 2025, changes in trade policies between China and the United States led to the return of two Boeing 737 MAX jets, originally scheduled for delivery to Xiamen Airlines, to Seattle, Washington. This move marked one of the first instances of "returned aircraft" amid the escalating trade war between China and the US. Boeing is negotiating a resale plan with Malaysia Airlines, indicating that the aviation manufacturing industry's long-standing reliance on a duty-free delivery system is facing challenges, and future aircraft delivery plans are filled with uncertainty.

04/21 02:58

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs 2025 Global Procurement Conference: Buyers from 48 Countries to Gather, with Estimated Business Opportunities of $500 Million.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs held the "2025 Global Procurement Conference" on April 23, 2025, attracting 471 international buyers from 48 countries to negotiate with 1,805 Taiwanese companies, with an estimated business opportunity of $500 million. The conference covered 12 major industries, setting a new record for scale. Due to the United States' 32% tariff policy on Taiwan, 36 out of 128 American buyers canceled their trips to Taiwan, demonstrating the impact of trade policies on business activities. The Ministry of Economic Affairs invited buyers from other countries through its overseas offices to fill the gap.

04/21 00:54

Trump's Tariff Policies Severely Impact Buick: The Century-Old American Automotive Brand Faces the Challenge of Up to 47.5% Import Tariffs

The Trump administration reinitiated high tariffs on imported cars and components from China and South Korea in early 2025, impacting General Motors' Buick brand. Buick's three SUV models, the Envista, Encore GX, and Envision, are subject to tariffs of 27.5% and 47.5%, respectively, due to being manufactured in South Korea and China, resulting in increased costs and higher prices. This could weaken their competitiveness in the U.S. market, despite a 39% increase in sales in the first quarter of 2024. General Motors is considering relocating some production to the U.S. to lessen the impact but is facing capacity constraints.

04/20 22:55

US tariffs on Chinese goods rise to 145%, severely affecting container shipping; Nintendo resumes pre-orders for the new Switch and shifts its production to Vietnam.

In April 2025, the Trump administration in the United States increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, resulting in a significant drop in the volume of containers exported from China to the U.S. In March, container transport volume decreased by 11%, and booking volume dropped by 64% in the first week of April. In response to the temporary suspension of the U.S. reciprocal tariff policy, Nintendo resumed U.S. pre-orders for the Switch 2 on April 24 and prioritized supplying the U.S. market with products manufactured in Vietnam. U.S.-Japan trade negotiations progressed simultaneously, with Japan proposing to expand imports of American rice and relax automobile inspection standards to seek an exemption from the 24% reciprocal tariff.

04/20 20:55

Three experts warn that the U.S.'s high tariff policy could pose a risk of economic recession.

U.S. President Trump's push for a new round of high tariffs has caused market turmoil and an uncertain economic outlook. Experts Robert Kiyosaki, Lael Brainard, and Jamie Dimon warn about the risk of a recession. Kiyosaki predicts a financial collapse and recommends investing in assets such as Bitcoin; Brainard criticizes the tariff policy for raising household costs; Dimon highlights a collapse in business confidence. The Atlanta Federal Reserve forecasts a 2.2% GDP contraction in the first quarter of 2025, showing signs of a recession. Federal Reserve Chair Powell warns of inflation risks, while Trump calls for interest rate cuts.

04/20 16:36

The United States levies port fees on ships made in China, which benefits Taiwanese shipping companies because they have a low percentage of ships made in China.

On April 17, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order announcing the imposition of significant port fees on ships manufactured in China or owned and operated by companies based in China. The order aims to weaken China's stronghold in the global shipping and shipbuilding industries and to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry. The port fees will be rolled out in phases starting October 14, 2025. Taiwanese shipping companies Evergreen, Yang Ming, and Wan Hai are expected to benefit from this policy because they use fewer Chinese-built ships.

04/20 15:05

Decline in Hong Kong's Exports Affects the 2025 Economic Growth Target: Companies Seek New Markets Amid the US-China Trade War

Amid US-China trade tensions, Hong Kong's export volume has declined, affecting the 2% economic growth target for 2025. Leung Siu Kee, a senior advisor at Hang Seng Bank, pointed out that SMEs are facing financial strain due to the disruption of US orders. Experts recommend that businesses explore new markets, and the government and business sector should provide support. Wong Ka Wo, Vice President of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, stated that policy uncertainty is adding pressure on businesses, especially during the Christmas shopping season. Financial Secretary Paul Chan stressed the importance of maintaining Hong Kong's status as a free port to attract international capital.

04/20 14:37

International grocery stores in the U.S. face import tariffs and supply chain challenges: Small retailers are feeling overwhelmed

In April 2025, international grocery stores in the United States faced challenges due to the import tariff policy implemented by the Trump administration, imposing a 10% tariff on all imported goods and up to 145% on Chinese products. These small, family-run stores that rely on imports are under pressure from rising costs, unstable supply, and losing customers. Business owners from Maryland to Iowa generally feel anxious and are trying to adjust their business strategies to meet these challenges.

US Tariffs on China Rise to 145% as Chinese Export Container Volume Plummets

In February and March 2025, the Trump administration imposed successive 10% tariff increases on Chinese imports, bringing the total to 20% by March. In April, the tariffs were further raised to 145%. According to Descartes Datamyne data, in March 2025, China's container shipments to the US decreased by 11% month-on-month, making China one of the few major Asian exporters to experience a decline. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Thailand saw increases of 11% and 40%, respectively.

US freight data company Vizion reported that in the first week of April (1st to 8th), China's bookings to the US dropped by 64% compared to the last week of March (24th to 31st). Large European container shipping companies also confirmed a significant cancellation of orders from China, indicating a swift and severe corporate response to the high-tariff environment.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) of the US estimates that starting in May, the overall container import volume will decrease by 20.5% compared to the same period in 2024, with an annual decline expected to exceed 15%. This trend indicates that China's logistics chain for exports to the US is under unprecedented pressure.

Nintendo Resumes Switch 2 Pre-orders in the US, Vietnam Production Capacity Becomes Key

Nintendo originally planned to start pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the US on April 9, but postponed the plan after the Trump administration announced a "reciprocal tariff" policy on April 2, imposing tariffs of up to 24% on Japanese goods. After Trump announced a 90-day suspension of the reciprocal tariffs on April 9, Nintendo resumed pre-order activities in the US and Canada on April 24.

The Switch 2 console is priced at $449.99, with a bundle version including "Mario Kart World" priced at $499.99. Although the console price remains unchanged, the prices of peripherals such as Joy-Con controllers and dedicated cameras have been slightly increased to reflect potential tariff costs.

To avoid the high tariff risks associated with Chinese manufacturing, Nintendo has prioritized Vietnam's production capacity for the US market. This strategy reflects the company's ability to quickly adjust its supply chain in response to trade policy uncertainties.

Trump Pauses Reciprocal Tariffs, Accelerating US-Japan Trade Negotiations

On April 2, the Trump administration announced "reciprocal tariffs" on multiple countries worldwide, imposing a 24% tariff on Japanese goods, which caused strong concerns in Japan. On April 9, US Treasury Secretary Besent and Commerce Secretary Lutnick successfully persuaded Trump to suspend the policy for 90 days, allowing time for bilateral negotiations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that Japan will strive to make US-Japan tariff negotiations a "world model" and emphasized that security issues should be handled separately from trade negotiations. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato is expected to hold a second round of negotiations with US officials on April 24, proposing to expand imports of US rice, soybeans, and energy products, and to relax car import inspection processes in exchange for the removal of reciprocal tariffs and exemptions on car, steel, and aluminum tariffs.

The US side has requested Japan to relax inspection standards for beef and potatoes and to increase import volumes. Both sides will also engage in dialogue on currency policy, emphasizing the principle of "fairness."

Vietnam's Production Capacity Shifts to US Market, Benefiting from Supply Chain Restructuring

With restrictions on Chinese exports, Vietnam has become the preferred alternative supply source for US companies. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, industries such as electronics, textiles, leather, and wood products account for 30% of Vietnam's total exports to the US. The Vietnamese government is accelerating trade and tax negotiations with the US and promoting a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

Nintendo's prioritization of Vietnam's production capacity for the US market is a concrete manifestation of this trend. Vietnamese companies are also facing higher environmental and sustainability standards from the US, requiring investments to upgrade equipment and technology to maintain export competitiveness.

Additionally, Vietnam is negotiating with the US to reduce the original 46% tariff to between 22% and 28%, and is considering reducing import tariffs on US energy and automobiles to improve bilateral trade balance.

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