China's foreign trade logistics to the United States have surged recently following the U.S.-China tariff cut, driving a sharp increase in inquiries to international freight forwarders.
In response, Yantian Port in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, is urgently adjusting its schedule to handle the heightened shipment volume on the U.S. route and ensure swift deliveries for customers.
"This ship is bound for the U.S. and will be loaded with more than 2,000 containers at Yantian Port. Other shipping companies are all coordinating with the terminal to adjust berths for their ships. The terminal handles six ships bound for the U.S. every day," said Lin Risheng, an official at Yantian Port.
A freight forwarding company in Shanghai has also experienced a surge in customer calls over the past few days, with numerous inquiries about ocean shipping bookings.
At present, container space on various platforms to the U.S. is in high demand and this trend is expected to persist for some time.
"The number of bookings and shipments has doubled compared to the daily average from a while ago. Popular categories include processed products, clothing, rubber products, and more," said Yang Qin, a sales manager from the company.
Following a two-day high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs in Geneva, China and the U.S. announced Monday a series of tariff modification measures aimed at easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
China's trade logistics to US surge following tariff cuts
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
