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2w ago

West Coast Ports See 30% Traffic Decline as Tariffs Disrupt Trade

Sharp import tariffs have led to blank sailings, job losses, and supply chain disruptions, with officials urging a resolution in upcoming U.S.-China talks.

A cargo ship moors at the container terminal berth of Lianyungang Port for loading and unloading containers in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 9, 2025.
A container ship sits docked at the Port of Los Angeles on May 6, 2025, in San Pedro, California. Los Angeles and Long Beach ports are seeing significant drops in expected cargo ships coming into port this week due to tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.
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Overview

  • Container traffic at the Port of Long Beach is down 30% year-over-year, while the Port of Los Angeles anticipates a 35% drop over two weeks due to blank sailings.
  • Seventeen canceled ship calls in May have removed an estimated 225,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from the supply chain, reducing work opportunities for dockworkers.
  • At least 235 union members were unable to secure shifts this week, with concerns that job losses may extend to full-time workers if the slowdown persists.
  • Small businesses near the ports and nationwide are reporting inventory shortages and rising prices as imports from China are curtailed by a 145% tariff.
  • Lawmakers and port officials have criticized the administration's tariff strategy, pressing for a resolution during trade negotiations with China set to take place this weekend.