NextFin news, On Monday, October 6, 2025, during the first day of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Annual Convention held in Quebec City, Canada, U.S. port officials publicly expressed growing frustration with the Trump administration’s tariff policies. They argued that these tariffs are damaging U.S. trade, increasing operational costs, and hindering economic development at ports across the country.
Port representatives, including officials from the Port of Houston, specifically criticized proposed tariffs on Chinese-built ship-to-shore (STS) cranes. These tariffs, which could reach 100%, are expected to raise expenses significantly and undermine ongoing port modernization efforts. Despite meetings with Trump administration officials, port leaders reported no positive outcomes, stating that the administration did not fully grasp the potential threats these tariffs pose to port infrastructure and competitiveness.
Cary Davis, AAPA President and CEO, responded to these concerns by affirming the association’s active opposition to the tariffs and additional fees proposed on Chinese-built vessels. Davis emphasized in written testimony that imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese STS cranes will not revive a domestic crane manufacturing industry that has been absent for decades. Instead, it will only increase costs for public port authorities, forcing them to pay more for essential equipment needed to replace aging infrastructure or to outfit new terminals.
In addition to opposing the crane tariffs, AAPA urged the Trump administration and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to rescind plans to impose fees that could reach $1 million on all foreign vehicle carriers. The association also called for scaling back fees on Chinese-built, owned, and operated vessels, warning that such measures would harm American businesses and consumers by raising shipping costs.
During a panel discussion on expanding foreign trade zones (FTZs), port economic development directors highlighted the importance of FTZs in fostering economic growth by allowing companies to import raw materials and manufacture products within designated free trade areas. This process helps defer or eliminate U.S. Customs duties and supports domestic manufacturing and job retention. However, officials noted that recent executive orders and tariff policies have complicated FTZ applications and slowed their processing nationwide.
Joseph Powell, Director of Economic Development at the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi, remarked that while thousands of Chinese companies are investing in FTZs abroad, such as the Port of Chancay in Peru, the United States is lagging behind in FTZ development due to administrative delays and tariff-related complications. Caleb McMahon, Director of Economic Development at the Port of Port Angeles, Washington, echoed these concerns, stating that tariffs have complicated FTZ operations since the port’s successful application earlier this year.
Furthermore, a Minnesota port official highlighted the negative impact of tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports, noting that foreign buyers have canceled orders in response to tariff increases, adversely affecting soybean farmers and other agricultural producers.
Overall, the AAPA and port officials called on the Trump administration to reconsider tariff policies that increase costs, disrupt supply chains, and threaten the competitiveness of U.S. ports and industries. They advocated for alternative approaches to address trade imbalances and national security concerns without imposing burdensome tariffs that ultimately raise prices for American consumers.
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