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Condemning the tariffs, ILWU said, “Tariffs are taxes. These and other reckless, shortsighted policies have begun to devastate American workers, harm critical sectors of the economy, and line the pockets of the ultra-wealthy at the expense of hardworking families. The tariffs have also sown distrust among our allies and inflamed geopolitical tensions. These tariffs are nothing more than a direct attack on the working class and should be opposed outright.”
US’ imposition of tariffs on China instigated a de facto trade war, with the former imposing a staggering 145 per cent tariff on all Chinese imports and China retaliating with a 125 per cent tariff on all US imports.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs are either directly or indirectly tied to global trade. Escalating trade tensions and tariff measures between the United States and China—the world’s two largest economies—pose a serious threat to employment within the global supply chain, the ILWU said in a press release.
Citing a recent example, the ILWU highlighted that Ocean Network Express cancelled one of its shipping routes last week in direct response to the imposed tariffs. In addition, the broader ripple effects—such as surging fuel prices and escalating costs of construction materials—have already resulted in workforce reductions, as American businesses grapple with the mounting pressures of an increasingly volatile trade environment.
According to some economic estimates, families will be forced to pay $1,600 more per year on basic goods and services due to these tariffs. “Everyone knows that the United States is currently in a housing crisis, with sky-high rents and homeownership completely out of reach for millions of Americans. Tariffs that increase the costs of construction will only accelerate this crisis,” added the release.
The union argued that despite official claims, experience shows that the burden of tariffs is ultimately borne by American workers.
Referencing the US-China trade actions of 2018 and 2019, the ILWU noted that those tariffs failed to significantly alter the trade balance between the two nations. Instead, they led to higher import costs, which were passed on to US consumers.
“Corporations and foreign countries will pass on costs to consumers while they continue to rake in record profits. Meanwhile, families struggling to get by are being hit with higher grocery bills, unaffordable car payments, and soaring costs for everyday necessities,” said ILWU.
Labelling it a false ‘America First’ strategy, the union said the tariffs will destroy jobs, raise costs, and fuel instability. Instead, it called for fair trade policies that prioritise workers, protect union jobs, and ensure economic justice—not policies driven by political whims.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)