From the Pacific Northwest to the world
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Auto tariffs would have‘ chilling effect’
A 25 % tariff on auto imports is of specific concern in the Pacific Northwest, where this category makes up a significant and growing business line for the NWSA gateway.
“ We expect these tariffs to have a
chilling effect on auto volumes imported through Seattle and Tacoma, though much is unknown about how significantly or quickly impacts to imported cargo volumes will be felt across the supply chain,” Wolfe said.
NWSA’ s breakbulk and roll-on / roll-off services have surged over the last two years thanks in part to a partnership with Hyundai Glovis, a South Korean logistics company that ships Kia and Hyundai vehicles. In 2022, Glovis consolidated its West Coast shipments through the Port of Tacoma, resulting in an increase of auto imports by nearly 340,000 in both 2023 and 2024.
“ There’ s no doubt about it: a 25 % tariff on vehicles and auto parts, which have been announced … it’ s going to have a very serious impact.”
Volumes are already down this year, however, because of the uncertainty surrounding tariffs, said John McCarthy, president of the Port of Tacoma Commission, and managing member cochair of NWSA.
“ We’ ve seen some drops for different reasons, and that’ s going to be impacted also by tariffs that are being considered, but it’ s been a big boost for us,” McCarthy said.
Imported car parts make up another large portion of the ports’ containerized volumes, generating 2,500 direct jobs across the Pacific Northwest region.
“ The bottom line is that the tariffs will have a troubling effect on imports and exports,” McCarthy said.“ Those farmers and ranchers and fishing industry, [ and ] certainly our automobiles, so it’ s going to hurt both ways. There’ s no doubt about it: a 25 % tariff on vehicles and auto parts, which have been announced … it’ s going to have a very serious impact.”
For some, those impacts are already being felt. Chris Krawczyk, senior vice president of UWL’ s Sun Chief Express, reported a pause in activity across the trans-Pacific eastbound trade lane. One of the world’ s largest ocean freight routes, the trade lane connects Asian ports with North America.
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64 Journal of Commerce | May 5, 2025 www. joc. com