U.S. seaborne imports surged 8.8% higher in December compared to a year earlier, including a 13.4% increase for containerized freight, defying expectations of a slowdown. Imports from China were the main driver with a 14.6% increase. The agreement between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump to suspend tariff increases was only reached at the start of December and Transpacific shipments take four to seven weeks to complete. Consumer-related products continued their steady expansion. Furniture imports led the way with a 23.4% jump. Industrial supply chains were more mixed with ...