From the San Francisco Chronicle:
The Port of Oakland, one of the busiest West Coast ports and a hub for trade with China, is seeing exports fall as the trade war escalates.
In July, exports fell 7.3 percent year over year — their fifth monthly drop in a row.
The Port of Oakland’s imports jumped in June by 8.7 percent year over year to a record-high volume, which the port attributed in part to Asian companies trying to beat the tariffs. Imports were down slightly in July by less than 1 percent year over year. Some ships arriving from Asia fully loaded have gone back empty.
Smaller Bay Area ports are also experiencing or anticipating pain from trade tensions.
Richard Aschieris, director of the Port of Stockton, said that last year four or five ships carrying steel would typically arrive each month. But only one ship is scheduled to dock in August, putting 50 to 70 people out of work, he said.
Jim Matzorkis, executive director of the Port of Richmond, said exports haven’t declined, but companies are worried.
“There’s concern over what the impacts will be,” he said. “I think it takes a couple of months to really get a feel for” the impacts.