West Coast lawmakers and port officials are expressing concerns about the economic risks stemming from the ongoing trade war in 2025 [4]. They are cautioning about the potential impact on businesses and consumers [4].
U.S. Senator Patty Murray highlighted the dire situation faced by small businesses, drawing parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic [4, 5]. During an online press briefing with fellow senators from Oregon and California, and port commissioners from Seattle, Tacoma, and Long Beach, Calif., Murray stated that small businesses are facing a dire situation [4].
Commissioner Dick Marzano of the Port of Tacoma anticipates a significant drop in traffic this month, primarily due to import tariffs, especially on Chinese goods [4]. West Coast companies that rely on exports are already experiencing losses as foreign buyers turn to other sources due to retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods [4].
The Trump administration has imposed a staggering 145% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate with a 125% tariff on American exports [4, 14]. Port officials have noted that many importers are opting to delay shipments at their points of origin, primarily in Asia, due to the uncertainty of the current trade environment [14].