Staten Island Reporter

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) - Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), member of the House Committee on Ways & Means, welcomed a bipartisan group of colleagues to Global Container Terminals in Staten Island, NY, for a field hearing on trade in America, securing supply chains and protecting American workers.

"It's my hope that this experience gives members of the Committee a new perspective on New York City and reveals the vital role that our ports fulfill when looking at American trade policy in practice," Malliotakis said in her opening remarks. "New York City is and always will be a hub for American trade going back to 1613 when the Dutch established fur-trading posts in both Manhattan and Staten Island, and trade will always be a cornerstone of our nation's economy...Our Committee is focused on reducing our country's dependency on China by enacting pro-growth and trade policies, strengthening trade relationships with those who share our values to bring critical supply chains for energy, pharmaceuticals, and technology home where we can, and work with our allies - not our adversaries - where we can't...It is time to work to eliminate trade barriers, restore fair-trade agreements with our closest allies, provide new markets for American products, create jobs for American workers, and fill this container terminal."

WATCH MALLIOTAKIS' OPENING REMARKS HERE

New York Harbor is the largest container port on the East Coast and the second largest in the country. In the first three months of 2023, the Port of New York and New Jersey was the nation's second-busiest port moving nearly 1.8 million containers. Last year, the Port of New York and New Jersey moved approximately $271 billion worth of goods. Global Container Terminals plans to increase its capacity by 65% through 2027 and double by 2030 thanks to private investment and federal infrastructure funding.

However, according to John Atkins, President of Global Container Terminals New York on Staten Island, volume at the port year over year is down about 42% and down 15% since 2019 due to consumer reaction post-pandemic. Atkins highlighted how rising interest rates have had a dramatic impact on the import of furniture and home goods, as fewer people are purchasing or building new homes.

"Any beneficial moves that could be made to incentivize the export market will help not just the American worker, but will help the ports we see here today," Atkins said. "We are tied so tightly to consumerism; a healthier economy is what brings that through. Anything we can do to get more people employed through trade policies, enforcement, anything that gets people to work gets money into the system."

WATCH MALLIOTAKIS' QUESTIONING HERE

Original source can be found here.