The U.S.-inbound peak shipping season of July and August accounts for 17% to 24% more imports than the slowest month of the year (February) and 6% to 8% more than the subsequent three months. In theory, a combination of improved data handling, more efficient shipping alliances and even the Panama Canal should allow importers to ship later in the year. The data for 2016 supported this theory, with a secondary peak in October. However, this likely reflected the failure of Hanjin Shipping at the end of August. In 2017 there has been an acceleration in shipments in tariff-sensitive industrie...