Trump's Trade War Is Having a Huge Effect on California Ports
6/3/2025 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
California jobs and revenue on and off the ports are feeling the effects of Trump’s tariffs.
Trump’s shifting tariffs and the latest trade war with China are already slowing cargo at California’s ports. Officials warn of a significant impact on jobs at the Ports of LA and Long Beach, which rely heavily on Chinese trade for economic stability.
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SoCal Matters is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal
Trump's Trade War Is Having a Huge Effect on California Ports
6/3/2025 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
Trump’s shifting tariffs and the latest trade war with China are already slowing cargo at California’s ports. Officials warn of a significant impact on jobs at the Ports of LA and Long Beach, which rely heavily on Chinese trade for economic stability.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship-President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs are putting many California businesses, jobs, and the state budget at risk.
The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, the busiest ports in North America, both saw first-quarter increases in imports but declines in exports year over year.
Gene Seroka, executive director for the Port of Los Angeles, recently attributed the higher volume of cargo moved during the first quarter to front-loading as a hedge against tariffs.
Seroka predicted a slowdown in cargo movement beginning in May due to a decline in Chinese imports.
On April 9, Trump raised his tariffs on China to 145%, although he later exempted certain electronics.
China responded on April 12 with 125% tariffs on US products.
Then on May 12, the US and China reached a deal, cutting their tariffs on each other's goods to 30% and 10%, respectively, for 90 days.
"Chinese goods represent 40% of the imports that pass through the Port of Los Angeles," Seroka said.
For the Port of Long Beach, that number is 63%, Port CEO Mario Cordero told CalMatters.
A decline in volume has already affected port jobs in Long Beach union officials and Cordero have said.
-After a healthy April, the tariffs between the US and China are expected to slow cargo volume.
China accounts for about 60% of imports at the Port of Long Beach and about 20% of exports.
If you're one of the millions of Americans whose job depends on cargo moving through the Port of Long Beach, any sort of long-term sustained downturn in shipments caused by the tariff will be detrimental to the job market.
-For CalMatters, I'm Levi Sumagaysay.
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SoCal Matters is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal