Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach brace for unsettling change amid 125% tariff against China
Nearly two thirds of the cargo imports through Long Beach are from China.
By Alex Rozier and Helen Jeong • Published April 9, 2025 • Updated on April 9, 2025 at 5:20 pm
“If my projection is correct, we will see at least a 10% drop in cargo volume in the second half of the year,” Port of LA Executive Director Gene Seroka said.
Big companies that conduct business through the Port of LA have been frontloading or advancing inventories for the past several months as they expected Pres. Trump to issue tariffs.
“Think of patio furniture, couches, chairs, television, electronic equipment, it’s all here now, knowing that this day would come with new tariffs,” Seroka said.
The Port of Long Beach is also expecting less traffic, expecting to lose about 20% in cargo volume in the second half of the year.
“About 63 to 64% of the cargo imports that come through the Port of Long Beach are Chinese imports,” Mario Cordero, CEO of the port, said.
NBC |
