The impact of the new tariffs announced by President Trump has already risen dramatically overnight at the Port of Los Angeles, potentially hampering reconstruction efforts in areas burned by the January wildfires, port officials said.
The ripple effects will be widespread, as ports in LA and Long Beach expect low cargo as a result of tariffs. According to Jean Celoka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the ripple effects will be widespread.
“Overall, this is bad for American consumers, American businesses and port facilities here in Southern California,” Celoka said, adding a port that handles about 40% of port imports and 30% of exports.
Less freight means less opportunities for the 1 million people working in port-related jobs, Celoka said, adding that one in nine people in Southern California are employed through ports, including people including the transport, logistics, transportation and warehouse sector.
“Whether you’re at the dock or you’re a forwarder and broker in our community, we’ll explain that there are fewer containers around the port that mean there’s less work here,” he explained.
With prices for all different products likely to rise rapidly, Celoka said tariffs will create additional hurdles for the Altadena and the Pacific Pallisard communities, which are being caught up in the January wildfires.
“We’ll need Canadian coniferous wood, Mexican appliances and Chinese furniture. All of these prices have risen dramatically overnight,” Celoka shared.
The local economy may not have a quick solution, but one possible solution could be exported as other countries rely on American produce and meat products.
“Step up America and sell today. As exports increase, there’s more work in the US,” recommended Seroca.
Many companies pose additional challenges for small and medium-sized businesses and rely on imports, although widely anticipated, may not have enough stock to gradually move into the new era of tariffs.
Seroka said that while some large companies have implemented more inventory over the past few months, industry partners in the retail, manufacturing and parts filling sector may have to pay additional fees for new supplies.
“(The higher prices) allow them to make decisions about HR staffing and further investment in their companies, but this is not going well now,” Seroka added.
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