1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

The abrupt halt in cargo ships bound for major U.S. ports due to escalating trade tensions with China is deeply concerning and will have far-reaching consequences for American businesses and consumers. With no vessels departing China for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach over the past 12 hours, a situation not seen since the pandemic, we are witnessing a dramatic drop in trade volumes. The 35-40% decline in cargo at the Port of Long Beach and 31% drop at the Port of Los Angeles this week alone illustrate the severity of the situation. If this persists, product shortages and higher prices for consumers are inevitable consequences. While trade negotiations are set to resume this weekend, substantive progress towards de-escalation is urgently needed to prevent further economic disruption and hardship. Maintaining open trade relations with a key partner like China is critical for the economic well-being of American households and businesses. An overly aggressive stance risks entrenching adverse effects that could take years to overcome.