White House Calls for Patience Regarding Tariffs Amid Rising Anxiety Over Prices
Port officials report that they have not received any communication from the administration amidst a significant decline in their shipping volumes.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump and his senior advisors have adopted a distinctly non-Trumpian message aimed at American businesses and consumers anxious about his trade war: Be patient.
However, that plea is already beginning to lose its resonance as the next stage of economic fallout approaches.
U.S. manufacturers and retailers are preparing for a significant decline in imports from China, with ports along the West Coast predicting a drop in shipments reminiscent of the early days of the Covid pandemic.
This impending impact has led to renewed warnings and lobbying from business organizations eager to avoid Trump's tariffs. Yet, there is little reassurance as the White House struggles to consolidate a consistent communications strategy, particularly as key allies like truckers start to feel the repercussions of supply-chain disruptions.
A decline in port arrivals marks the first clear indicator of supply chain disruption, which industry representatives warn could reach consumers in the coming weeks, leading to shortages and increased prices for everyday items such as cars, furniture, clothing, and even basic children's toys.
"That means fewer jobs, along with rising prices for consumers and businesses," stated Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. "Consumers and manufacturers will face difficult decisions."
At Seroka's port, a 35 percent decrease in container deliveries is anticipated this week compared to the same time last year, as Trump’s escalating tariffs begin to take effect. A number of other ports in California, Washington state, and Oregon are also experiencing slowdowns, suggesting that the distress Trump has warned about could soon escalate.
Key Trump aides within the White House's National Economic Council and Treasury Department are monitoring the situation closely, according to a White House official who spoke anonymously to share internal strategies. However, there appears to have been little initiative for significant outreach thus far.
Representatives from the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Oregon, a couple of ports in Washington state, and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association indicated on Monday that they had not received communication from any administration officials.
Various industries are also voicing concerns about the potential damage they might face from the abrupt downturn in trade with China.
Toy manufacturer Mattel revealed on Monday that it intends to increase prices on some products to compensate for the added costs associated with tariffs. The Toy Association, representing toy producers nationwide, has publicly appealed to the administration for tariff relief, emphasizing the importance of keeping "toys available on retail shelves and available for the holiday season."
Trump has downplayed these concerns, asserting that children will be satisfied with fewer dolls this year as part of his efforts to restructure the global economy.
Complicating Trump’s communication efforts is the reality that he has no plans to back down from his trade confrontation with China, according to his aides and advisors. This has necessitated a minimization of the immediate impacts, even as Trump's senior economic aides remain vigilant about the early consequences, while they work to secure new trade agreements that they hope will generate political and economic momentum to overshadow broader anxieties.
“That’s why you keep hearing the president preach patience,” remarked one external advisor to the White House, who requested anonymity to relay internal thoughts. “They want to reach resolution on some of these trade deals, and honestly, I think they are counting on the tax reform coming later this year to improve some of the numbers in the intermediate to long-term."
In the past few weeks, White House officials have aimed to create a more coherent message surrounding Trump’s arbitrary tariff decisions by framing certain tariffs on allies as temporary pressure to renegotiate more favorable trade agreements, while characterizing others—like those on specific items such as steel—as a definitive policy shift aimed at restoring domestic manufacturing of essential products.
Trump and key aides, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are optimistic about achieving significant progress on at least one trade agreement shortly, allowing the administration to showcase it as crucial evidence that their approach is effective.
However, the unfolding economic consequences and Trump’s dismissive stance on potential discomfort are making it increasingly challenging to promote the strategy.
“The messaging that we’re going to have to go through some pain runs so counter to what Trump said during the campaign,” noted Doug Heye, a seasoned GOP strategist. “‘We’re all going to take it on the chin for a while’ is not a slogan.”
On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made a significant attempt to shift the narrative, telling attendees at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles that in the long run, “the result of the president’s economic plan will be more” jobs, manufacturing, and economic growth.
“This is the abundant vision he has for the future,” Bessent stated, underscoring that historically, the U.S. economy “reliably gets back up even stronger than it was before.”
Nevertheless, the White House has not specified when this optimistic future might materialize or how much collateral damage may be incurred in the process. Trump remains unfazed, abruptly announcing Sunday night that he now desires tariffs on foreign movies. Central to the strategy from the White House is the belief that the tariffs will have a quicker adverse effect on China's economy, compelling the nation to engage in negotiations.
However, economic experts, along with some of Trump’s allies, increasingly question how long the administration can maintain a lead over significant political pain.
“Some of the advisers to Trump are taking it very seriously, but that doesn’t mean they’re articulating it to him in those terms,” commented Ian Bremmer, president of the nonpartisan risk assessment firm Eurasia Group, who has communicated with U.S. and foreign officials regarding the tariff impacts. “We’re the least patient country in the world.”
The slowdown at West Coast ports is expected to affect a variety of goods, likely resulting in higher prices for some of the most visible products that consumers regularly purchase. The tariffs imposed on China threaten to pressure domestic small businesses that depend on foreign materials.
At E-Blox, a family-owned firm in Illinois specializing in educational toys, all shipments have been paused until tariff rates decrease.
“Everything's on hold, production, development, shipping, everything,” said Joseph Seymour, the company’s chief operating officer.
Seymour is a member of the Toy Association, which, shortly after the election, hired the Trump-connected lobbying firm Ballard Partners to advocate for tariff exemptions with White House aides, the trade office, and the Commerce Department. However, he has yet to see much progress in their efforts to exempt toys, criticizing Trump’s assertions about generating more revenue through the trade conflict as detrimental to domestic businesses.
“It’s not affecting China,” Seymour remarked. “It’s affecting us right here.”
The immediate consequences are also impacting more essential sectors of the economy, according to port officials. A shipment of cotton processing machinery destined for China from John Deere, typically sent every spring, is currently on hold, indicating that the trade war is also influencing outbound cargo.
The slowdown will inevitably lead to fewer ships in transit, resulting in reduced shifts for longshoremen and less business for trucking companies. While most American consumers might be able to demonstrate some patience, truckers are already beginning to experience financial strain.
“We’re kind of in uncharted territory,” stated Sam Cho, a commissioner with the Port of Seattle. “As far as dealing with essentially a global trade war, there’s really no other way to put it."
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
However, that plea is already beginning to lose its resonance as the next stage of economic fallout approaches.
U.S. manufacturers and retailers are preparing for a significant decline in imports from China, with ports along the West Coast predicting a drop in shipments reminiscent of the early days of the Covid pandemic.
This impending impact has led to renewed warnings and lobbying from business organizations eager to avoid Trump's tariffs. Yet, there is little reassurance as the White House struggles to consolidate a consistent communications strategy, particularly as key allies like truckers start to feel the repercussions of supply-chain disruptions.
A decline in port arrivals marks the first clear indicator of supply chain disruption, which industry representatives warn could reach consumers in the coming weeks, leading to shortages and increased prices for everyday items such as cars, furniture, clothing, and even basic children's toys.
"That means fewer jobs, along with rising prices for consumers and businesses," stated Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. "Consumers and manufacturers will face difficult decisions."
At Seroka's port, a 35 percent decrease in container deliveries is anticipated this week compared to the same time last year, as Trump’s escalating tariffs begin to take effect. A number of other ports in California, Washington state, and Oregon are also experiencing slowdowns, suggesting that the distress Trump has warned about could soon escalate.
Key Trump aides within the White House's National Economic Council and Treasury Department are monitoring the situation closely, according to a White House official who spoke anonymously to share internal strategies. However, there appears to have been little initiative for significant outreach thus far.
Representatives from the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Oregon, a couple of ports in Washington state, and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association indicated on Monday that they had not received communication from any administration officials.
Various industries are also voicing concerns about the potential damage they might face from the abrupt downturn in trade with China.
Toy manufacturer Mattel revealed on Monday that it intends to increase prices on some products to compensate for the added costs associated with tariffs. The Toy Association, representing toy producers nationwide, has publicly appealed to the administration for tariff relief, emphasizing the importance of keeping "toys available on retail shelves and available for the holiday season."
Trump has downplayed these concerns, asserting that children will be satisfied with fewer dolls this year as part of his efforts to restructure the global economy.
Complicating Trump’s communication efforts is the reality that he has no plans to back down from his trade confrontation with China, according to his aides and advisors. This has necessitated a minimization of the immediate impacts, even as Trump's senior economic aides remain vigilant about the early consequences, while they work to secure new trade agreements that they hope will generate political and economic momentum to overshadow broader anxieties.
“That’s why you keep hearing the president preach patience,” remarked one external advisor to the White House, who requested anonymity to relay internal thoughts. “They want to reach resolution on some of these trade deals, and honestly, I think they are counting on the tax reform coming later this year to improve some of the numbers in the intermediate to long-term."
In the past few weeks, White House officials have aimed to create a more coherent message surrounding Trump’s arbitrary tariff decisions by framing certain tariffs on allies as temporary pressure to renegotiate more favorable trade agreements, while characterizing others—like those on specific items such as steel—as a definitive policy shift aimed at restoring domestic manufacturing of essential products.
Trump and key aides, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are optimistic about achieving significant progress on at least one trade agreement shortly, allowing the administration to showcase it as crucial evidence that their approach is effective.
However, the unfolding economic consequences and Trump’s dismissive stance on potential discomfort are making it increasingly challenging to promote the strategy.
“The messaging that we’re going to have to go through some pain runs so counter to what Trump said during the campaign,” noted Doug Heye, a seasoned GOP strategist. “‘We’re all going to take it on the chin for a while’ is not a slogan.”
On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made a significant attempt to shift the narrative, telling attendees at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles that in the long run, “the result of the president’s economic plan will be more” jobs, manufacturing, and economic growth.
“This is the abundant vision he has for the future,” Bessent stated, underscoring that historically, the U.S. economy “reliably gets back up even stronger than it was before.”
Nevertheless, the White House has not specified when this optimistic future might materialize or how much collateral damage may be incurred in the process. Trump remains unfazed, abruptly announcing Sunday night that he now desires tariffs on foreign movies. Central to the strategy from the White House is the belief that the tariffs will have a quicker adverse effect on China's economy, compelling the nation to engage in negotiations.
However, economic experts, along with some of Trump’s allies, increasingly question how long the administration can maintain a lead over significant political pain.
“Some of the advisers to Trump are taking it very seriously, but that doesn’t mean they’re articulating it to him in those terms,” commented Ian Bremmer, president of the nonpartisan risk assessment firm Eurasia Group, who has communicated with U.S. and foreign officials regarding the tariff impacts. “We’re the least patient country in the world.”
The slowdown at West Coast ports is expected to affect a variety of goods, likely resulting in higher prices for some of the most visible products that consumers regularly purchase. The tariffs imposed on China threaten to pressure domestic small businesses that depend on foreign materials.
At E-Blox, a family-owned firm in Illinois specializing in educational toys, all shipments have been paused until tariff rates decrease.
“Everything's on hold, production, development, shipping, everything,” said Joseph Seymour, the company’s chief operating officer.
Seymour is a member of the Toy Association, which, shortly after the election, hired the Trump-connected lobbying firm Ballard Partners to advocate for tariff exemptions with White House aides, the trade office, and the Commerce Department. However, he has yet to see much progress in their efforts to exempt toys, criticizing Trump’s assertions about generating more revenue through the trade conflict as detrimental to domestic businesses.
“It’s not affecting China,” Seymour remarked. “It’s affecting us right here.”
The immediate consequences are also impacting more essential sectors of the economy, according to port officials. A shipment of cotton processing machinery destined for China from John Deere, typically sent every spring, is currently on hold, indicating that the trade war is also influencing outbound cargo.
The slowdown will inevitably lead to fewer ships in transit, resulting in reduced shifts for longshoremen and less business for trucking companies. While most American consumers might be able to demonstrate some patience, truckers are already beginning to experience financial strain.
“We’re kind of in uncharted territory,” stated Sam Cho, a commissioner with the Port of Seattle. “As far as dealing with essentially a global trade war, there’s really no other way to put it."
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
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