World Trade Week Southern California Timeline
Port of Los Angeles
In 1900, San Pedro was a small coastal community that would soon grow into one of America’s busiest international trade gateways: the home of the Port of Los Angeles.
Stanley T. Olafson
In 1926, Stanley T. Olafson, then manager of the World Trade Department of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, proposed that the Chamber should observe a World Trade Week to promote commerce and growth in the region. In addition to serving as the head of the World Trade Week Department until 1960, Mr. Olafson also served as consul for Iceland from 1944 to 1973.
Flags for World Trade Week on Chamber Building
In 1928, flags from around the world lined the Chamber of Commerce building during Foreign Trade Week. They reflected Los Angeles’ expanding role in international trade as the region’s ports and industries began connecting to global markets. These early efforts helped shape the foundation of today’s trade gateway.
Progress and Growth of the Port of Los Angeles
The progress and growth of Los Angeles Harbor since 1920 were without precedent among the leading ports of the world. The Port of Los Angeles developed into a seaport of major standing in global commerce and reached the enviable position among American ports of ranking first in intercoastal tonnage, second in export tonnage, and third in total commerce.
Olympics Opening Ceremony
During the 1932 Olympic Games, Los Angeles drew more than one million spectators despite the Great Depression, using the global spotlight to boost its international profile and accelerate regional growth. The event helped transform Southern California into a rising center for commerce and global connectivity.
World Trade Week Becomes a National Observance
In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt elevated Southern California’s World Trade Week to a national observance, recognizing its 1927 origins and its role in strengthening America’s global connections. Amid an era of high tariffs, Roosevelt used the moment to champion reciprocal trade agreements and reduce barriers to international commerce—laying the groundwork for a more open and cooperative global economy.
1942 Foreign Trade Week Activities
Amid World War II, World Trade Week carried the hopeful theme, “When Peace Is Made the World Will Trade,” even as global commerce was dramatically reshaped by the conflict. By early 1942, the U.S. government had requisitioned merchant vessels for wartime use, sharply limiting commercial shipping and placing cargo movement under wartime control as ships transported ammunition, aircraft, fuel, and critical supplies to Allied fronts. At the same time, civilian air transport was absorbed into the Air Transport Command, redirecting aircraft, crews, and routes toward military logistics and international supply corridors.
WWII Brings Changes to Global Trade
While commercial trade slowed, wartime production increased significantly. During this period, ports and related industries also expanded opportunities for women in the workforce while men served in the military, giving women valuable professional experience outside the home.
World Trade Week Poster
By the 1950s, postwar expansion had supercharged Southern California’s ports. Shipping, trucking, oil, and canning industries boomed as trade surged across the Pacific, helping transform the Los Angeles–Long Beach harbor complex into one of America’s fastest‑growing gateways for global commerce.
The Advent of Containerization
The invention of shipping containers revolutionized international trade at ports around the world. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach responded by restructuring operations to support the new shipping model, resulting in major gains in efficiency, faster shipping times, and increased cargo capacity.
In these photos from the Port of LA, the containers could be loaded and unloaded, stacked, transported efficiently over long distances, and transferred from one mode of transport to another—container ships, rail transport flatcars, and semi-trailer trucks—without being opened.
The Modern Expansion of LAX
During the 1950s, Los Angeles International Airport began expanding into the modern airport we recognize today. Early planning documents from the era show the development of the airport’s future terminal system.
World Trade Week Nationwide
In 1958, a 75 pound block of Wisconsin cheese was presented during World Trade Week, highlighting the growing national profile of the celebration. By this time, World Trade Week had expanded beyond Southern California and was recognized across the country. The event had become a platform for promoting U.S. goods, strengthening trade relationships, and connecting regions through commerce.
Port Of Long Beach - 50th Anniversary Magazine
This special magazine issue details the first 50 years of the Port of Long Beach and celebrates the growth of numerous new piers. It also outlines future expansion plans, including the development of Pier J.
LAX Theme Building Construction
In 1961, LAX’s now-iconic Theme Building rose into the Jet Age with its dramatic parabolic arches and 900 tons of steel forming a futuristic “flying saucer” at the airport’s center. The structure was designed by Pereira & Luckman and was later renovated in the 1990s by Walt Disney Imagineering to include a working restaurant.
50th Golden Anniversary Brochure
By the 1970s, the rise of containerization was transforming global trade, and Southern California’s ports were at the center of it. As container shipping rapidly expanded, the Los Angeles–Long Beach port complex moved into the high‑volume era that would eventually surpass 9.7 million TEUs annually in later decades, cementing the region’s role as a powerhouse gateway for U.S.–Asia commerce.
Port Of Long Beach - Pier J Completion
Pier J was one of the Port of Long Beach’s major modernization projects. Here, containers are moved by crane in a system that dramatically improved cargo handling. Before containerization, workers had to break down cargo into smaller shipments and distribute them individually to their destinations. This labor-intensive and time-consuming process could now be streamlined.
Presidential Proclamation
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation to observe World Trade Week: "World Trade Week gives us the opportunity to pledge ourselves to exporting as a national priority and renew our determination to succeed in the world marketplace."
Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
The Olympic Games returned to Los Angeles in 1984. At the time, the International Olympic Committee was struggling to find cities interested in hosting the Games because of the financial burden involved. Los Angeles demonstrated a new model for hosting by relying heavily on private funding and existing sports venues. The 1984 Games generated an estimated $250 million surplus. In this photo from the Opening Ceremony, thousands of spectators link hands as the motto “Make This World a Better Place” flashes across the screen.
Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
A colorful view of the closing ceremonies at the Coliseum, photographed by former LA City Councilmember Tom LaBonge.
1986
60th WTW brochure
By the 1980s, global trade through Southern California was accelerating rapidly. Container traffic at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach surged past 1.5 million TEUs annually by the middle of the decade, reflecting a shift toward high-volume Pacific Rim commerce. At the same time, LAX expanded as a major international cargo gateway, supporting the rise of long-haul air freight and connecting Southern California industries to markets around the world.
Presidential Proclamation
In 1997, President Bill Clinton issued a proclamation to observe World Trade Week: "I am confident that, working together, we can sustain America's leadership in the global economy, generate millions of new jobs, and improve quality of life for all our people."
Alameda Corridor
Construction began in 1998 on the Alameda Corridor, a freight rail expressway designed to connect the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach directly to downtown Los Angeles. Completed in 2002, the corridor significantly improved cargo movement efficiency and has supported the movement of over 100 million TEUs over the past two decades.
Snapshot of Global Trade in 1998
The World Trade Week program booklet included a snapshot of statistics demonstrating Los Angeles’ role in global trade. Among the highlights: California ranked as the nation’s top exporter, generating more than $100 billion, while Los Angeles was the leading customs district in the country.
WTW Program Marking the Millennium
This program book from the 2000 World Trade Week celebration ushered in the new millennium. Notable statistics included imports and exports accounting for nearly half of all air cargo moving through LAX, while the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach together formed the third-busiest port complex in the world, after Hong Kong and Singapore.
75th World Trade Week County of LA Proclamation
For World Trade Week’s 75th anniversary in 2001, the County of Los Angeles issued an ornate proclamation honoring the event’s long legacy. The design featured global trade symbols, including a globe, ship, and compass, representing Southern California’s role as a gateway for international commerce for more than seven decades.
Pier 400: An Engineering Marvel at the Port of Los Angeles
The completion of the Pier 400 Dredging and Landfill Program, the largest such project in America, marked a significant milestone in positioning the Port of Los Angeles to accommodate the tremendous growth in international trade well into the 21st century. Operated by APM Terminals, Pier 400 officially opened as the first proprietary single-user container facility in the world.
Remarks by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
In 2008, World Trade Week opened with remarks from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa during a period when Southern California’s airports played a pivotal role in global commerce. Los Angeles World Airports reported that more than $300 billion in imports and exports moved through the region’s combined air and seaport gateways during this era, underscoring the importance of air cargo in sustaining international trade flows.
2010 WTW: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
In 2010, World Trade Week welcomed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as its keynote speaker, highlighting California’s growing role in global commerce. That same year, the Port of Los Angeles handled more than 7.8 million TEUs, reflecting renewed economic activity and rising exports following the recession. The San Pedro Bay port complex continued to anchor the region’s economy, reinforcing Southern California’s position as the nation’s busiest trade gateway.
World Trade Week Brochure
This brochure from the 2014 World Trade Week highlighted trade by the numbers: Total exports in LA were $126 billion, while exports amounted to $287 billion. The top exports at the time were cotton, motor vehicles, and aircraft. In comparison, the top imports were motor vehicles, oil, and computers.
World Trade Week Keynote: Tony Blair
More than 900 business and civic leaders gathered in Los Angeles for the 91st Annual World Trade Week, featuring keynote remarks from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The year marked a major milestone for regional trade as the Port of Los Angeles moved a record 9.34 million TEUs, the highest annual volume ever handled by a Western Hemisphere port.
Port Traffic Today
This image offers a glimpse into the technology used by the Vessel Traffic Service of the Marine Exchange of Southern California. The organization has provided critical maritime data and coordination services for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for more than 100 years. Operated jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Vessel Traffic Service monitors and directs more than 27,000 vessel movements annually.
Port Of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
From its earliest days to the present, World Trade Week has brought together leaders from business, government, and the global trade community. This spirit of collaboration continues to drive innovation and economic growth in Southern California and sets the stage for the next century of opportunity.
Thank you to our 2026 World Trade Week presenting sponsors,
Los Angeles World Airports, Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles for graciously sharing photos from their collections.