John Wolfe, CEO of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, in Washington state, recently testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on the effects of U.S. tariff policy on jobs and the economy.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance operates the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, North America’s fourth-largest container complex. The Port of Seattle operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the ninth busiest U.S. airport.
Wolfe said the ports’ and airport’s success are linked to Chinese imports and exports. In 2017, more than $27 billion in Chinese imports and nearly $5 billion in exports passed through the ports while $1.1 billion in imports and $2.2 billion in exports passed through the airport.
“While there are justifiable concerns about China’s trade practices, we continue to believe that productive engagement and negotiations are the best path to ensuring a fair and level playing field for mutually beneficial trade,” Wolfe said. “The U.S. must be clear on the desired remedies sought, and then tariffs should be a measure of last resort that are narrowly targeted to address the problem and minimize the unintended impacts on Americans.”
If Chinese tariffs are implemented, approximately $8 billion in two-way trade through the ports and airport would be affected, Wolfe said.
Tariffs also would negatively impact exporters who would have difficulty finding alternative markets, Wolfe said.