Imports to the busiest U.S. seaport could drop as soon as May, as companies pause orders in response to President Donald Trump’s escalating tariffs on China and other trading partners, Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka said.

Trump this week hiked tariffs on China-made goods to 145%, endangering the No. 1 source of imports at the Port of Los Angeles.

“Global trade will slow as companies try to figure out what this means,” said Seroka, who reiterated his forecast for imports at the Port of Los Angeles to fall at least 10% in the second half of this year.

“It may be more than that, we just don’t know,” Seroka said.

“Buckle up, this is going to get really bumpy for us.”
Source: Reuters