Trump Views Port Traffic Slowdown as a Positive Development

This week, a noticeable decline in ship traffic at major West Coast ports has sparked some engaging comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. He suggested that fewer container ships means a healthier American economy.

“Fewer imports mean less money lost… when you hear it’s slowing down, think of it as a positive,” Trump remarked during a press conference on thursday.

The recent 145 percent tariffs imposed on Chinese imports have led to a meaningful drop in purchasing activity for goods coming from China to the U.S., which in turn caused container bookings to plummet. Peter Sand from Xeneta noted that shipping companies quickly responded by canceling sailings after the tariff announcements hit back in early April.

The number of vessels making their way from China to the West Coast has seen a dramatic decrease: Long Beach Port reported 30 canceled sailings for both May and June. CEO Mario Cordero mentioned to NBC LA that current traffic levels are reminiscent of the slowdown experienced during the pandemic.