Tariffs: Crisis in US ports

At the Port of Los Angeles, the frenetic choreography of cranes unloading containers from Asia has slowed, and the noise at the busiest docks in the United States is calming.

"You could hear a pin drop, it's very unusual," port director Gene Seroka told AFP.

According to this unofficial barometer, the US economy is facing a slowdown under US President Donald Trump amid his trade war with China .

Along with the neighboring Port of Long Beach , the area represents the largest gateway to the United States for goods from China and the rest of Asia.

That has made her one of the first victims of an emerging crisis that threatens to disrupt the lives of millions of Americans .

Trump 's tariffs , as well as retaliation by other countries, have deterred importers , whose usual orders for furniture, toys and clothing have dwindled.

By the week of May 4, the Port of Los Angeles will receive up to 35 percent less cargo compared to the same period last year, Seroka said.

While the Port of Long Beach says it expects a 30% drop in imports for the entire month of May.

Dozens of ships have cancelled their trips to these ports .

"Many retailers and manufacturers alike have hit the pause button, halting all shipments from China ," Seroka said.

The Asian giant is the hardest hit by Trump 's tariffs , with levies of up to 145% on some products . Sales of Chinese products to the United States last year exceeded $500 billion, according to Beijing.

And while sales may not rise this year, prices certainly will.

"Indeed, the cost of a product made in China is now two and a half times more expensive than it was last month ," Seroka said.

Empty shelves

Last month , Trump announced a series of separate tariffs against nearly every country in the world based on a formula that baffled economists .

A few days later, he reversed course, imposing a blanket 10% tariff on most of the planet. This additional cost, which is borne by the importer of a product, not the seller, will affect trade throughout the United States .

"It's not just a West Coast problem. It affects all ports , whether they're in the East Coast or in the Gulf" of Mexico—which Trump has decreed should be known as the Gulf of America—warned Mario Cordero, director of the Port of Long Beach .

Earlier this year, Long Beach and Los Angeles saw American businesses rush to get ahead of the tariffs Trump promised during his campaign.

Cargo volumes soared as companies sought to accumulate as much inventory as possible before the new taxes.

But as soon as tariffs start to bite, they will no doubt hold back on buying to devour inventory .

According to Seroka, if the White House doesn't back down and reopen the retail spigot, consumers will soon start noticing shortages.

" US importers , especially in the retail sector, tell me they have five to seven weeks of normal inventory on hand today," he said.

"If this trade dispute drags on for some time, we're likely to see fewer selections on store shelves and online shopping platforms," ​​he added.

It would be, he said, a "direct blow to the pocketbook" for consumers in the United States .

"Angry with Donald Trump "

For Antonio Montalbo, one of the 900,000 logistics workers in Southern California, the ordeal has already begun.

A small trucking company owner needs to replace the starter motor on one of his vehicles; the part, made in China , now costs twice as much.

Trump has "created a hostile environment at the port for drivers," the 37-year-old said.

• "We're angry with Donald Trump . He needs to go see the country a bit , because he's got a lot of truckers angry," he added.
• Between skyrocketing maintenance costs and the drop in work , he estimates he could lay off staff within six months.
• Montalbo said he voted for Trump last November because he was fed up with inflation and trusted him to fix the economy .
• "Now we have something worse than inflation, which is called tariffs ," he said.

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