The company did not disclose the identity of the potential Chinese investor in the $23 billion deal, although it is widely thought to be Cosco Shipping Holdings.
US Customs and Border Protection requires importers to maintain a bond for estimated duties owed, a number that has increased significantly as new tariffs take effect.
But with many details of the framework agreement still to be thrashed out over the coming weeks, it will do little to address the uncertainty hanging over the trade lane.