Kathmandu: Amid the announcement of impending new tariffs by the United States, traders have begun importing goods early to avoid the added costs, leading to a surge in activity at major ports like Los Angeles, while smaller ports such as Oakland face sharp declines.

In the last month alone, nearly 900,000 containers arrived at the Port of Los Angeles, marking an 8% increase compared to the same period last year — the highest volume ever recorded. Port officials say traders are bringing in holiday-season goods early, though the trend is expected to be temporary.

In contrast, the Port of Oakland saw a 10% drop in cargo movement, attributed to customs duty uncertainty rather than seasonal factors. Similar declines have hit Seattle and Tacoma, where throughput has fallen by about 30%, reducing both trade volumes and labor hours.

Shipping analysts report that importers are shifting goods to larger ports to minimize tariff-related risks, disrupting regional economies reliant on smaller ports. Oakland, which supports around 98,000 jobs, is especially vulnerable. The port handles a large share of agricultural exports, including meat, apples, and oranges headed to Asia — a sector likely to suffer most if trade tensions continue.

Analysts warn that if tariffs persist without a trade agreement, the growing divide between large and small ports could worsen, with long-term effects on regional employment and trade flow dynamics.