The recent U.S.-China agreement to pause tariff hikes and temporarily roll back some duties is being met with cautious optimism across the global supply chain. Reactions have come from shipping firms, industry groups, and financial analysts, all pointing to the same thing: relief in the short term, but questions about what happens after the 90-day window.
“This is a step in the right direction,” Maersk said in a statement, adding that it hopes the agreement leads to “a more stable and predictable environment for customers.”
Shipping Carriers Welcome the Reprieve
CMA CGM also praised the agreement. “This truce shows that dialogue is still possible between the two largest economies in the world,” the company said. “This is good news for global trade and for shipping.”
Hapag-Lloyd echoed that sentiment, telling Reuters it expects an uptick in container bookings on trans-Pacific lanes, especially ahead of peak season.
Retailers, Brands See Temporary Relief
Retailers were among the biggest immediate beneficiaries, with shares of Amazon, Best Buy, and Target all rising after the news broke. The American Apparel and Footwear Association called the deal a “welcome relief” but emphasized that much of the tariff burden remains.
“There’s still a long way to go before full certainty returns,” the group told Vogue Business. “Retailers are still planning cautiously.”
Financial Markets React Positively
Markets surged in response to the tariff agreement, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing more than 1,100 points in a single day. Kenneth Broux, Senior Strategist at Société Générale, told Reuters the rally shows investors are “eager for any sign of de-escalation,” though he cautioned that “uncertainty remains high.”
“We still have a fair amount of uncertainty about where these tariffs will settle, their impact on world growth and central bank policy,” said Jane Foley, Head of FX Strategy at Rabobank.
Tech Sector Joins the Rally
Tech stocks also saw gains, with Amazon, Apple, and Nvidia all climbing on the news. Analysts noted, however, that the U.S. government’s policies targeting high-tech exports to China remain unchanged.
“This agreement doesn’t undo the strategic measures already in place,” one Barron’s analyst said. “But it does give markets a breather.”
Experts Urge Caution
Some policy experts warned that the deal is more of a pause than a resolution. Angela Huyue Zhang and S. Alex Yang, writing in Project Syndicate, called the agreement “fragile” and said it’s unlikely to reverse the broader decoupling trend between the two economies.
The Washington Post noted that while both sides touted the announcement, it “fell far short of a comprehensive deal” and will likely lead to more negotiations this summer.
What’s Next?
With tariffs lowered temporarily, many importers are racing to move goods during the 90-day window. But most companies agree: without a more permanent solution, uncertainty will continue to hang over sourcing and logistics decisions.
As Maersk put it: “Customers need clarity. This is a start — but only a start.”