On April 8, the White House announced a dramatic increase in tariffs on small parcels from Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, raising the duty from 30% to 90%. The new policy will take effect on May 2, posing significant challenges to global supply chains and e-commerce platforms.
Speaking today (April 9), Gary Lau, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics, described the tariff hike as "devastating" for the logistics industry. He emphasized that the measure affects a wide range of products, from smartphone cases and appliances to food and essential consumer goods.
"The industry foresees tough months ahead as businesses grapple with this unexpected blow," Lau said. "However, we will not remain idle."
He suggested that the logistics sector could seize this opportunity to explore untapped markets, such as Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—regions that traditionally account for smaller trade volumes. While these efforts may take time to yield results, Lau noted that the industry is likely to adopt cost-saving measures in the short term and remains confident in its ability to adapt and find new avenues for growth.
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