ICYMI: Congresswoman Simon Visits Port of Oakland and Convenes Stakeholder Roundtable on Tariffs

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Oakland, CA – In case you missed it, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) recently toured the Port of Oakland and convened a roundtable with labor, small business, and Port of Oakland stakeholders to discuss the devastating impacts of President Trump’s tariff policies. 

President Donald Trump’s decision to impose, then reverse, and now re-impose tariffs on numerous countries has created a strain on the global economy and on the East Bay’s local economy. The Port of Oakland, shippers, and workers have experienced unpredictable shipment cycles and canceled shipments, leading to a loss in local union jobs. Small businesses have also been impacted by higher costs due to President Trump’s tariffs on China, forcing them to absorb burdensome costs and potentially raise prices for consumers. 

Remarks from the stakeholder roundtable can be found below:  

“Tariffs are not always bad, but a tariff war is a disaster for the United States economy and for the global economy… [President Donald Trump] is giving us a ‘no-win’ situation, where folks literally could lose their jobs…we cannot last in this devastating economic catastrophe that the Administration has put us in,” said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12). “I’m proud to represent the Port of Oakland, and I know that so many local, union jobs depend on the Port’s robust shipping operations including dockworkers, truck operators, and warehouse workers. I support smart trade policies that uplift workers and lower costs for Oakland’s working families–not an illogical and retaliatory trade war.”

“The Port of Oakland is an economic powerhouse that supports nearly 100,000 good-paying local jobs”, said Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney. “A tariff-induced downturn in the Port’s cargo volume—whether from import slowdowns or retaliatory export losses—ultimately could jeopardize job stability and our region’s economic health.”

Congresswoman Simon will continue to work with Port of Oakland, labor, small businesses, and other stakeholders to find solutions to navigate President Trump’s changing tariff policies. In particular, as a member of the House Small Business Committee, Congresswoman Simon is committed to supporting small businesses in California’s 12^th Congressional District and across the nation. 

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