By Jacob Sisneros

On Tuesday, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, who represents Long Beach, announced the introduction of a Senate Bill that aims to study the impacts of tariffs on businesses, affordability, workers and the state economy.

“The actions taken by the Trump Administration to raise tariffs will not protect American business as he claims – they will actually raise prices of consumer goods, increase costs for our small businesses, and reduce employment opportunities in key sectors of our economy,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

If passed, SB 263 would direct specified state agencies to study the impacts of tariffs imposed by the U.S. government and potential retaliatory tariffs imposed by other nations.

The port and the surrounding trade infrastructure are major employment drivers in Long Beach, accounting for about 1 out of every 5 jobs, according to the port’s website.

Congressman Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, who met recently with Port of Long Beach leadership about the tariffs, called Trump’s trade policy “a really irresponsible approach.”

“Certainly as a port city we should be very concerned,” Garcia said.

Read the full article at the Long Beach Business Journal, here.