📰 TARIFF AND PORT STRIKE FEARS DRIVE U.S. IMPORTS Fears of a new wave of tariffs and a possible dockworker strike in January are driving strong imports to end the year. The National Retail Federation’s Global Port Tracker forecasts that importers brought in the equivalent of 2.17 million containers in November and will ship 2.14 million boxes in December, a more than 14% increase over the same months last year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose tariffs on China when he takes office. Unionized dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas could strike if they don’t reach an agreement on a new labor contract before Jan. 15.