Report from TPM. The Trump administration’s moves to withdraw support from Ukraine in its war with Russia and not support Taiwan which is facing growing threats from China undermines U.S. national security as nations around the world see the United States as weak and unwilling to support its traditional allies, according to John Bolton, Donald Trump’s former national security advisor.

The decision by the Trump administration to impose tariffs is creating uncertainty within the supply chain, increasing the price of imported goods that could worsen inflation and discouraging US consumers from buying, says Lars Jensen, CEO at Vespucci Maritime based in Copenhagen.

Kristi McKenney, incoming Executive Director of the Port of Oakland, says she will enhance partnerships to help the Port of Oakland grow: “I want to say to all of you (that) the only way we go is in partnership. That is a partnership with everyone in this room. And those who could not be here with us today. It's the businesses that generate that revenue and generate those careers. It is the businesses we … work with every day.”

While the sector remains heavily fragmented and the biggest market share for any single company is estimated as being no more than 10%, what is the outlook for small and medium-sized (SME) forwarders when scale is the prevailing mantra?

In an interview with AJOT, Rao argues that the Trump administration’s criticism of Chinese investments in terminals accessing the Panama Canal misses the point: China is investing in new container terminal operations around the world and the United States is not.

The six shared their experiences at the Propeller Club of Northern California on February 18th and included: Susan Ransom, Stevedoring Services of America, Captain Samar Bannister, California Maritime Academy, Captain Anne Mcintyre, San Francisco Bar Pilots, Carolyn Almquist, Port of Oakland, Leanne Andalis, Pasha Group and Laura Germany, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA).

Seroka spoke at the Port’s February 19th media briefing in which he added: “January imports landed at a robust 484,000 TEUs. That is a 10% increase over last year. In addition … many imports arrived early to avoid scheduled production slowdowns due to the (Chinese) Lunar New Year holiday. On the export side, we shipped out 113,000 TEUs, a 10% decrease compared to 2024.

At the recent “State of the Port” event, the 2025 Master Plan detailed current and upcoming port projects that executives forecast will continue the success of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

The Drewry report says that some of the imported building materials that will be required for reconstruction include: iron, steel, plastering materials, lime, cement and machinery.

At the Port of Los Angeles “State of the Port” Eugene Seroka, Executive Director, announced that “in 2024, the Port of Los Angeles moved 10.3 million TEUs. That is our second-best year in the 117-year history of the Port of Los Angeles ... and nearly a 20% increase in volume over 2023. In fact, we moved 1.7 million more TEUs than last year, which is the largest incremental gain we’ve ever seen.”