Port of Los Angeles Anticipates Cargo Increase Following Supreme Court Tariff Ruling
– The Port of Los Angeles is bracing for a potential surge in cargo volume following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling concerning tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, according to Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
Seroka indicated that if the effective tariff rate decreases for some companies and importers, a significant increase in cargo could quickly move through the port system. “If that effective tariff rate for some companies and importers is lower, we may see some cargo really shoot through the system pretty quickly,” Seroka said, as reported earlier today.
The anticipation follows a period of significant volatility at the port driven by shifting tariff policies. In July 2025, the Port of Los Angeles processed a record 1,019,837 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a milestone attributed to importers rushing to beat impending tariff deadlines. Imports alone reached 543,728,000 TEUs, also a record for the port in its 117-year history.
The initial surge in July was a direct result of companies “frontloading” cargo to avoid the tariffs, as Seroka explained at the time. “Shippers have been frontloading their cargo for months to get ahead of tariffs and recent activity at America’s top port really tells that story,” he said. The port’s longshore workers, terminal and rail operators, and truckers were credited with efficiently processing the unprecedented volume.
However, the high tariff levels – a minimum of 30% – prevented some companies from placing full orders, according to Mike Short, president of global forwarding at C.H. Robinson. This contributed to a peak season that, while arriving earlier than usual, didn’t reach the levels typically seen at the port.
The situation was further complicated by a series of deadline extensions and adjustments to the tariffs. The Trump administration initially announced tariffs in April 2025, then extended the deadlines to July 9 and subsequently to August 1 to allow for further negotiations.
Prior to the July surge, the port experienced a slowdown in May 2025 after the initial tariffs were implemented. Seroka noted at the time that imports “slowed significantly” following the introduction of the baseline tariffs on nearly every country. A subsequent pause on some tariffs led to a rebound in cargo movement in the latter half of June, with the port seeing an 8% jump in cargo compared to the previous June – also a record for that month.
The port also saw an unexpected boost in June from five additional vessels not normally scheduled to arrive, further contributing to the record volume. “After a very slow start, the Port of Los Angeles bounced back strong in the second half of June,” Seroka said in July. “While record-setting volume is welcome news, it also highlights the tariff whipsaw effect.”
Looking ahead, the port is prepared for potential fluctuations in cargo volume as the implications of the Supreme Court ruling unfold. The court’s decision could lead to a renewed period of increased imports, mirroring the conditions seen in July 2025, as companies adjust to the new tariff landscape.
