ILWU Condemns Trump Tariffs, Warns of Job Losses

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents West Coast dockworkers, has issued strong statements condemning the Trump administration's tariffs on Chinese imports, warning that these measures are a direct attack on the working class and will devastate American workers. The union argues the tariffs—raised to 145% on Chinese imports with retaliatory 125% tariffs by China—are already harming critical sectors of the U.S. economy, with ports experiencing dramatic declines in shipments and shipping routes being canceled. ILWU leaders stress that these tariffs will result in massive job losses across the maritime and logistics sectors, raise costs for American families, and fuel broader economic instability. They contend that, contrary to administration claims, previous tariffs failed to improve the U.S.-China trade balance and instead passed costs onto consumers. Port officials echoed concerns about deep uncertainty and anticipate significant drops in cargo volumes, further threatening jobs. The union calls for trade policies that genuinely protect working Americans, rather than policies it describes as reckless and shortsighted.