Congresswoman Lateefah Simon recently toured the Port of Oakland and convened a roundtable with labor, small business, and Port of Oakland stakeholders to discuss the impacts of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
Trump’s decision to impose, then reverse, and now re-impose tariffs on numerous countries has created a strain on the global economy and on the East Bay’s local economy, Simon stated. The Port of Oakland, shippers, and workers have experienced unpredictable shipment cycles and canceled shipments, leading to a loss in local union jobs. Small businesses also have been impacted by higher costs due to Trump’s tariffs on China, forcing them to absorb burdensome costs and potentially raise prices for consumers, Simon noted.
“Tariffs are not always bad, but a tariff war is a disaster for the United States economy and for the global economy,“ Simon said at the stakeholder roundtable. “[President Trump] is giving us a ‘no-win’ situation, where folks literally could lose their jobs…we cannot last in this devastating economic catastrophe that the Administration has put us in.”
Simon told the stakeholders she is proud to represent the Port of Oakland.
“I know that so many local, union jobs depend on the Port’s robust shipping operations including dockworkers, truck operators, and warehouse workers,” the Congresswoman added. “I support smart trade policies that uplift workers and lower costs for Oakland’s working families—not an illogical and retaliatory trade war.”
Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney stated, “The Port of Oakland is an economic powerhouse that supports nearly 100,000 good-paying local jobs. …A tariff-induced downturn in the Port’s cargo volume—whether from import slowdowns or retaliatory export losses—ultimately could jeopardize job stability and our region’s economic health.”
Simon said she will continue to work with the Port of Oakland, labor, small businesses, and other stakeholders to find solutions to navigate these changing tariff policies. As a member of the House Small Business Committee, Simon added, she is particularly committed to supporting small businesses in California’s 12th Congressional District and across the nation.
