Council asks Port of Los Angeles for report after tariffs linked to falling sailings and local job losses

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a motion asking the Port of Los Angeles to report on the local and regional effects of recently imposed tariffs that councilmembers said are already causing disrupted sailings and job losses.

Councilmember Mike Bonin (referred to as City Councilmember McOsker in the transcript) introduced the motion in a floor statement that described a roughly 30% drop in sailings ("blank sailings") into the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach within 30 days of the tariff actions. He said the drop was already affecting waterfront employment and predicted shortages on store shelves during peak shipping seasons.

"It's important for us to note that 40% of all the goods that come into The United States come through the San Pedro Bay complex of LA and Long Beach," he said, referring to the scale of the ports. He also said the tariffs had been described as "imposed illegally" and criticized the uncertainty around their administration.

The motion requests the Port's general manager to appear before the council to report on the tariffs' effects on shipping, supply chains, local jobs and businesses. The vote on the item was 15 ayes on the council floor.

Councilmembers said the report will help them explain economic impacts to constituents and coordinate with state and federal partners. The mayor's office and the state attorney general were referenced as parties already engaged on litigation or press responses.

The motion does not itself impose any regulatory change; it asks for information and analysis from port leadership to be presented to the council.

Speakers during the item included Councilmember McOsker (motion sponsor) and other councilmembers who supported calling for the port report.