Tariffs blamed for Port of Seattle traffic trouble

This week saw another back-and-forth over President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

On Thursday, a federal appeals court allowed the Trump administration to continue collecting tariffs under an emergency powers law, as his administration appeals an order striking down the bulk of them.

Earlier in the day, a federal judge had blocked Trump’s use of the law to impose tariffs. The ruling was handed down the day after a similar, broader finding from a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of International Trade.

WA U.S. Senator: Tariffs battle is ‘wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy’

As the court battles continue over the tariffs, “We know this, that it is wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy,” Washington U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said.

Cantwell pointed out Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the country, adding, “95% of the world’s consumers live outside of the United States, and if we want to be competitive with other countries, we need to be fighting to open markets.”

Port of Seattle Commissioner reports slowdown

She said the tariffs are having the opposite effect. Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman said a slowdown at the docks supports that claim.

“Just last week, we saw a 30% decline in container volumes moving through our gateway, and this week have a 25% reduction, year over year,” he said.

Felleman warned the current tariff policies and court battles risk painting the U.S. as an unreliable trading partner.

“If we’re not seen as a reliable partner, it doesn’t mean that trade doesn’t continue, it just doesn’t go through our gateway or our country,” he shared.

Cantwell has introduced a bill that would return much of the control over tariffs to Congress.

Read more of Heather Bosch’s stories here.