SEATTLE – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) visited the Port of Seattle to discuss the detrimental effects that President Trump’s tariff policies are having on Washington workers, businesses, and healthcare providers.
The impact of tariffs, which are essentially a tax on imported goods, is significant as they are paid by American businesses and often passed down to consumers.
Since Trump took office, he has imposed extensive tariffs against some key allies and trading partners without a comprehensive strategy, resulting in confusion and instability.
Such uncertainty can be harmful for businesses as they struggle to plan for their future, resulting in increased costs for business inputs, disruptions to supply chains, and reduced market opportunities for American goods.
Washington state, which is heavily reliant on trade—with 40% of jobs connected to this sector—feels the impact of these tariffs particularly hard.
Delays and slowdowns at the Port of Seattle translate to a decrease in employment opportunities for longshoremen, truckers, and others in the shipping industry, as well as fewer products available for consumers.
“Washington is a very trade-dependent state, and the president’s tariff chaos is hurting businesses, threatening jobs, and raising prices on families,” stated DelBene.
She emphasized that Trump’s lack of a clear plan for his trade war is damaging to the state’s economy.
As a former businesswoman, DelBene highlighted the critical need for stability in business operations.
She called on Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over trade, insisting that any president should seek congressional approval before implementing sweeping tariffs.
During her visit, DelBene was accompanied by representatives from the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Port of Seattle, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Washington Hospital Association, Overlake Medical Center, and SOGDA, a seafood wholesaler based in Washington.
Sam Cho, a commissioner from the Northwest Seaport Alliance and Port of Seattle, remarked on the critical need for predictable international trade policies.
He voiced concerns about market disruptions due to the recent tariff implementations and the absence of clarity surrounding trade policies.
Cho expressed gratitude for DelBene’s advocacy for trade policies that encourage growth and prosperity for Washington businesses.
Deanna Keller, a commissioner from the Northwest Seaport Alliance and Port of Tacoma, noted that the Alliance prides itself on being a premier export gateway for American agricultural goods and manufacturers.
She stated that trade wars often inflict the greatest toll on exporters and highlighted the need for policymakers to work towards reducing trade barriers and unnecessary tariffs.
ILWU President Mark Elverston echoed these sentiments, sharing that there has been a recent slowdown in cargo operations in the Pacific Northwest.
He urged for stability in long-term decision-making from Washington, DC, as the shipping industry requires consistent policies for operational planning.
Elverston emphasized the importance of job security for longshoremen, trucking companies, warehouse workers, and farmers.
In response to these ongoing challenges, DelBene has proposed multiple pieces of legislation aimed at ensuring that any president must obtain congressional approval prior to enacting sweeping tariffs.
However, she noted that Republican members of Congress have avoided votes on repealing Trump’s tariffs, even opposing her efforts to introduce amendments to existing legislation.
Despite recent court rulings declaring Trump’s tariffs illegal, the administration has indicated plans to appeal these decisions, casting further uncertainty over the future of trade policies.
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