The Engineering Marvels at the Forefront of Trump’s Global Trade War | US News
The tumultuous market of the past week—with its tariffs, risks, and brinkmanship—has underscored the extraordinary nature of our interconnected world that we often take for granted.
There are numerous battlegrounds in this global trade conflict, and the port of Duluth-Superior stands out as one of them. It is both a logistical and engineering marvel.
In the northernmost reaches of the United States, close to the Canadian border, no seaport exists as far inland as this.
The ocean is over 2,000 miles away to the east, accessible via the Great Lakes-St Lawrence Seaway System, a bi-national waterway that straddles the US-Canada border.
At the port, imposing ocean-going ships are loaded and unloaded with essential goods that fuel the global economy—iron ore from Canada, cement from Turkey, grain headed to Algeria, and containers filled with products labeled “Made in China” destined for the American market.
Jayson Hron from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority
My guide is Jayson Hron from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.
“A ship making its way through the seaway to Duluth crosses the international border nearly 30 times on that journey,” he explains.
Duluth-Superior generates $1.6 billion (£1.2 billion) annually and supports over 7,000 jobs, making these uncertain times particularly concerning.
“We are certainly experiencing a season of unpredictability not seen in recent years. Unpredictability is detrimental to ports and supply chains,” Mr. Hron adds.
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Tariffs create friction, and friction is detrimental to everyone involved. Each season, around 30 million metric tons of waterborne cargo pass through the port, ranking it among the top 20 ports in the nation for cargo flow.
“Iron ore is the primary cargo by tonnage at the port,” Mr. Hron indicates. “It constitutes about half of our total annual waterborne tonnage. It is mined 65 miles (104 km) from the port, in Minnesota’s Iron Range.”
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However, not all of the iron ore is shipped to domestic mills. In 2024, nearly a third was sent to Canada, now affected by the trade war tariffs between the two nations.
“In 2024, one-fifth of our overall waterborne tonnage was related to Canadian trade, with the vast majority being exports from the US to Canada,” Mr. Hron mentions.
The unique geography, combined with decades of American and Canadian engineering, has made this port a logistical feat. From the ocean, cargo can be efficiently imported and exported to and from the center of North America.
The Federal Yoshino will carry American grain destined for Algeria
On the docks, the Federal Yoshino is preparing for her load. She is set to depart soon with American grain bound for Algeria.
The port is located across two states, connected by the John A Blatnik interstate bridge, linking Duluth with Superior and Minnesota with Wisconsin.
A comprehensive network of roads and railways connects the port to the broader country, with the fields of gold in Wisconsin just an hour to the southeast.
Trump suggests farmers can sell more products domestically
Last year, soybeans topped the list of US exports to China, amounting to nearly $12.8 billion (£10 billion) in trade.
Donald Trump has proposed that American farmers can offset the losses by increasing domestic sales.
In March, he tweeted: “To the Great Farmers of the United States: Prepare to start producing a lot of agricultural products for sale INSIDE the United States. Tariffs on external products will commence on April 2nd. Enjoy!”
Yet, there is no substantial domestic market for soybeans—America’s second-largest crop. Two-fifths of the exports are directed to China, with no other markets coming close—11% going to Mexico and 9% to the EU, which is also facing potential tariff obstacles.
Local farmer Tanner Johnson
‘These Fields Are Rows of Gold’
Tanner Johnson, a local farmer and soybean industry representative, frequently engages with politicians in Washington DC.
“They don’t like much in your hand. But these fields are rows of gold,” he remarks.
Farmers across the country overwhelmingly supported Mr. Trump in the elections. Is there anxiety? Absolutely.
“I don’t want to set a specific timeline on when things might change around here. In the short term, I believe most farmers can manage. However, in the long term—after a year or so—it could look significantly more grim,” Mr. Johnson shares.
Here, they predominantly maintain a trust in Mr. Trump. There is a shared belief that his erratic negotiations that impact their livelihoods will ultimately yield positive results. But the stakes are high, and the uncertainty is unwelcome.
