Customs rights | The greatest ports scuttled by the trade war

(San Pedro) In the port of Los Angeles, the waltz of cranes unloading the containers brought from Asia by immense ships has been disregarding for a few days: this barometer of the American economy turns idling because of the trade war launched by Donald Trump.

Posted yesterday at 11:25 p.m.

“We could hear a fly fly, it’s really unusual,” said its director, Gene Serka.

With the port of Long Beach, its twin and direct neighbor, the area represents the largest port complex in the United States and the main gateway to Chinese products in the country.

Enough to make it the first victim of a crisis that threatens to upset the daily life of Americans: missing containers contain thousands of furniture, toys or clothes normally expected in stores.

For the week of May 4, the port of Los Angeles will receive “up to 35 %” of less deliveries, compared to the same period last year, according to Mr. Seroka.

The port of Long Beach has already done its calculations for the whole month of May, and expects a fall of 30 % of imports.

In both ports, cancellations of ships are counted by dozens.

“Many retailers and manufacturers have pressed the pause button and suspended all the cargoes from China,” sums up Mr. Seroka.

Because with the 145 % customs duties imposed by Donald Trump, “the cost of a product manufactured in China is now twice and a half times higher than it was last month”.

Fears of empty rays

In addition to the trade that has become impossible with China, the effects of customs duties of 10 % on the products of dozens of countries are also felt.

The drop in imports “is not only a problem that affects the west coast”, warned the director of the Port de Long Beach, Mario Cordero, at a press conference this week. “This affects all the ports, whether they are on the east coast or in the Gulf (from Mexico, editor’s note). »»

At the start of the year, Long Beach and Los Angeles saw American companies hastily prepare for customs duties, promised by Donald Trump throughout his campaign. Cargos volumes jumped because they increased their orders to build up a maximum of non -surcharged stocks.

But now that the port machine is flu, everyone wonders how long the United States can hold on these reserves.

“Stores should not be out of stock before the third quarter, unless a panic purchasing phenomenon seizes consumers by then,” says Pantheon Macroeconomics in a recent note.

Mr. Seroka believes that the stocks of many traders calling on the port of Los Angeles will be exhausted by “five to seven weeks”.

Beyond that, there will be “less choice (on shelves, note) and more expensive prices”, especially for summer fashion and school supplies for the start of the school year, he underlines. “The American consumer will be hit directly on the wallet. »»

“Anger” against Trump

For Antonio Montalbo, which is one of 900,000 workers in the logistics sector in southern California, the event has already started.

This boss of a small road transport company must replace the starter of one of its heavy goods vehicles: the room, made in China, now costs it twice as much.

Donald Trump “created an environment hostile to the port”, plagues this 37 -year -old American, “angry” against a president “who does not care about the world and the working class”.

Between his exploding maintenance costs and the fall of the cargoes, the entrepreneur believes that he will last “no more than six months” before having to announce bad news to his employees.

“We will have to dismiss some of them soon […] If customs duties are not removed, “he sighs.

However, the boss had voted for the republican billionaire in November, because he trusted him to reduce the cost of living.

“Now we have something worse than inflation,” he groans. “These are customs duties. »»