PORT ANGELES — The ongoing volatility surrounding the Trump administration’s tariff policies has triggered a wave of instability across the North Olympic Peninsula, leaving local industry leaders and government officials grappling with a landscape defined by unpredictable costs and stalled development.
U.S. Rep. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, convened a roundtable at the Port of Port Angeles this week to assess how these federal trade measures are hindering regional economic stability. From infrastructure projects to international shipping, the message from local stakeholders was uniform: the current climate of “out-of-control uncertainty” is making long-term planning an impossibility.
## Infrastructure Projects Facing Soaring Costs
The ripple effects of shifting tariff policies are hitting public utilities and local infrastructure particularly hard. Shailesh Shere, assistant general manager of the Clallam County Public Utility District (PUD), highlighted the stark financial reality facing the organization. The PUD had been preparing to replace a central facility deemed critical for disaster resilience, but the project’s budget has ballooned from an initial estimate of $30 million to $58 million.
“We’ve had to cut down the scope of the project,” Shere noted, citing rising steel prices and supply chain disruptions as the primary drivers of the cost spike. This sentiment was echoed by Paul Jarkiewicz, CEO of the Port of Port Angeles, who noted that expansion projects—including those for local aerospace manufacturers—are facing similar budgetary “blossoming” that jeopardizes growth.
## The Shrinking Global Market
Export-heavy industries on the Peninsula are also feeling the squeeze. Don Kuckuck, CFO of Port Angeles Hardwood, revealed that the company’s export volume to China has cratered from 50 percent to just 10 percent. For businesses reliant on international trade, the lack of a stable federal roadmap is “devastating.”
Grant Munro, president of Munro LLC, emphasized that businesses are hesitant to commit to any new ventures while tariffs remain in flux. “I’m trying to get going working with the port, but I can’t start until I know the tariffs are off,” Munro said. While the tourism and hospitality sectors remain surprising bright spots for the region, leaders cautioned that these industries do not consistently provide the high-wage roles necessary to support the local workforce, who are increasingly squeezed by rising costs of living.
## Technology and the Future of Economic Planning
In an era where global trade is increasingly governed by complex data modeling and AI-driven supply chain management, the “chaos” described by local leaders highlights a disconnect between federal policy and operational reality. While modern tech companies often utilize AI to predict and mitigate market fluctuations, the unpredictability of the current trade wars has rendered traditional planning models ineffective.
Rep. Randall noted that even federal representatives are struggling to secure concrete, timely information from government agencies, often facing long delays or unresponsive channels. Marc Abshire, Executive Director of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the fundamental issue lies in a lack of legislative oversight. He argued that Congress needs to regain its authority over trade policy to restore a sense of predictability.
“Real jobs are at stake,” Abshire said. “It’s ironic these tariffs are being implemented to bring more money into the U.S., but that’s at the national level. Rural areas are paying for it.”
As Congress prepares to return to session—with upcoming debates on major executive oversight, including the potential impeachment of the Secretary of Defense—the business community in Port Angeles remains stuck in a holding pattern. Until there is a shift toward a more stable trade environment, local leaders suggest the region will continue to struggle under the weight of an unpredictable and costly federal agenda.
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