Southern California is no stranger to the spotlight, but 40 miles south of Hollywood, the real stars of the economy wear coveralls, not couture. At the San Pedro Bay port complex, home to the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, the usual clatter of cranes and cargo has gone quiet. Traffic at America’s busiest port complex has dropped dramatically, and workers fear the slowdown is only beginning.

For the past 25 years, this port has been the celebrity of the shipping world. But now, with the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs—10% minimum on imports, and far higher for goods from 57 countries—roughly a third of the traffic has stalled.

Blue-Collar Communities on Edge

The slowdown is hitting close to home. More than 70% of the port workforce lives within ten miles of the complex, and communities like San Pedro, Wilmington, and Long Beach are feeling the first tremors of an economic shock.

“One in every five jobs in Southern California is tied to the ports,” said Gary Herrera, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 13. “Warehouse workers, truck drivers, logistics teams, and more.” Areas like Riverside, San Bernardino, Bakersfield, and Barstow are key links in the distribution chain, also bracing for impact.

The effects won’t stay confined to the West Coast. According to former harbor commissioner Diane Middleton, what happens in the port doesn’t stay in the port. “Cargo that comes in here goes to all 435 US congressional districts. Everyone in the US will feel this.”

From Overtime to Uncertainty

For longshore workers like Vivian Malauulu, the signs are clear. “When ships are docked on our berths, we’re busy—there’s manning, dispatch activity, job orders, and 24-hour operations,” she said. Now, with “fewer imports and fewer vessels calling at our terminals,” the bustle has dwindled. Full workweeks have shrunk to three or four shifts. Workers are cutting back, skipping family outings and entertainment.

“There’s definitely concern on the docks,” Malauulu added.

While the ILWU has historically aligned with progressive politics, not all dockworkers rejected Trump’s economic message. “Some members, like many working-class Americans across the country, were drawn to Trump because he sounded like he was speaking directly to them,” said Malauulu. Promises to “bring jobs back” and be “tough on China” resonated—until the reality hit home.

National Stakes and Mounting Pressure

The port, which handles 40% of all containerized imports into the US, has long been considered a barometer of national economic health. In anticipation of tariffs, many retailers stockpiled goods. That stockpile is now expected to last only six to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, new port fees announced by the Trump administration are set to further strain the industry. Ships built in China will face fees starting at $50 per net ton per US voyage, rising to $140 by 2028. The USTR’s Jamieson Greer called it a move to “reverse Chinese dominance,” but Beijing has already threatened retaliation.

Blank sailings and canceled ship arrivals have surged. The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach report 30 projected blank sailings this month, up from just 10 in April.

Holding the Line on the Docks

Despite growing anxiety, union leaders are urging resilience. “We are the most resilient workforce in the world,” said Herrera. “During the COVID pandemic, we kept moving the world’s cargo because we couldn’t work remotely. Now, with this situation, we’re all just hoping that there’s some type of resolve because at the end of the day it’s about the American worker, the blue-collar worker, that’s being hurt.”

He remains hopeful. “If and when the work comes back, we’ll be here.”