Report: Tsunami impacted U.S. trade, transportation with Japan

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics last week released “Preliminary Observations of the Tsunami’s Impact on U.S. Trade and Transportation with Japan.” The fact sheet examines the immediate impacts of the tsunami and possible longer-term disruptions.

According to the report, the United States faces potential ramifications from the damage to Japan’s freight transportation system caused by the March earthquake and tsunami. The United States may face lower levels of both air and maritime imports in automobiles and parts, as well as fewer imports of high-end electronics and devices such as semiconductors and specialty chemicals.

The disruption of Japan’s transportation and distri¬bution networks already has affected U.S. industrial supply chains, particularly automobile manufacturing and assembly plants.