The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) is speaking out against the Trump administration’s new tariffs, warning they are already inflicting deep harm on American workers and global trade-dependent sectors.
The ILWU, representing tens of thousands of workers at ports along the West Coast, issued a strong condemnation of the recently imposed tariffs on Chinese imports, calling them a “direct attack on the working class.” The tariffs—set at a steep 145%—have triggered swift retaliation from China, which now imposes a 125% tariff on all U.S. imports. The trade war escalation has already begun to ripple across the supply chain and maritime logistics industry.
Massive layoffs and cancelled shipping routes
The fallout from the tariffs has started to show in the shipping sector. Ocean Network Express (ONE), one of the world’s largest ocean carriers, recently canceled a major Asia-U.S. shipping route due to expected demand shortfalls and rising costs tied to the new tariff regime. These cancellations are only the beginning, according to port labor leaders and logistics analysts.
“Constricted trade between the world’s two largest economies could lead to devastating job losses for workers employed in the global supply chain,” warned the ILWU. Maritime workers, stevedores, truckers, rail yard operators, and warehouse teams all depend on the continuous flow of international cargo. A slowdown in U.S.-China trade threatens to idle not just ships, but entire port operations.
Rising prices, shrinking margins
The broader economic impact of the tariffs is already affecting industries far beyond the docks. Fuel prices have jumped, and costs for construction materials, such as steel and aluminum, are rising sharply. These price spikes have led to layoffs in related sectors as businesses scramble to adjust to thinner margins.
According to recent economic estimates, the average American family is expected to pay an additional $1,600 annually for essential goods. Food, gas, and everyday household items are becoming more expensive, compounding financial stress on families already struggling with inflation and rising rent costs.
The ILWU points to past tariff implementations—such as those in 2018 and 2019—which failed to improve the U.S.-China trade imbalance. Instead, consumers absorbed the bulk of cost increases, while corporations maintained record profits. The union argues history is repeating itself, with working families once again bearing the brunt of ill-conceived economic policies.
Fair trade vs. failed strategy
While the ILWU acknowledges that decades of poorly structured free trade agreements have harmed American labor, they argue that this latest tariff plan lacks the structure and strategy needed to deliver any long-term benefit. They contend the policy is more political theater than a serious effort to support American manufacturing or protect union jobs.
“These tariffs don’t put ‘America First’—they put American working people last,” the ILWU said in its statement. “They will kill jobs, raise costs, and fuel economic instability that will ripple through every community in this country.”
From port terminals to inland logistics hubs, many in the breakbulk and project freight sectors are bracing for reduced volumes and uncertain contract renewals. Some analysts are warning of a cascading effect that could see smaller carriers and logistics firms driven out of business entirely.
The ILWU is now calling on other unions, industry stakeholders, and the broader public to oppose the Trump tariffs and push for fair trade policies that genuinely support American workers. They argue that responsible trade policy should stabilize—not disrupt—critical supply chains, protect labor standards, and avoid geopolitical brinksmanship.
As tensions continue to mount and global shipping patterns adjust, industry professionals are watching closely for further fallout—and hoping for a course correction before the damage becomes irreversible.
