A rare behind-the-scenes look at one of America's busiest ports reveals how escalating trade measures are redrawing supply chain dynamics. CGTN reported from Waterfront Logistics' Long Beach facility, where Chief Strategy Officer Michael Chen described tariffs as "creating puzzle pieces that no longer fit the same board."
Chen detailed how inventory management costs have risen 18% year-over-year, with companies increasingly stockpiling goods preemptively. The tariffs – particularly those affecting U.S.-China trade flows – have forced logistics firms to develop new contingency plans and supplier networks across Southeast Asia.
While the Long Beach port handled 9.8 million containers in 2023, officials note shifting patterns in agricultural exports and electronics imports. Analysts observe these disruptions could accelerate automation adoption in logistics, with Chen confirming a 40% increase in robotics procurement since 2022.
