02:43 PM EDT, 05/02/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The number of ships heading to the US's Southern California ports is expected to pick back up later in May amid speculation that trade tensions are easing between China and the US.

According to data from Port Optimizer available Friday, 15 vessels are scheduled to arrive at ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach next week, down more than 16% week over week and dropping 35% year over year.

However, during the week of May 11 to May 17, the ports are scheduled to receive 22 vessels, up 34% week over week, but representing a drop of nearly 1.6% year over year, the data showed.

China is currently evaluating proposals from the US to begin negotiations on tariffs, a spokesperson for the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement on Friday.

China's "door is open" for talks, but the US must demonstrate "sincerity" in negotiations, according to the spokesperson.

"It's all tariff related, whether it be China, which now if you buy a product from there, it's two and a half times more expensive than it was just last month," Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka told CNN on Wednesday during a televised interview.

Seroka said he expects a drop in container ship traffic to hit the local and regional economy immediately, with dock workers, truckers, and warehouse personnel having fewer opportunities beginning next week.