World Trade Week Southern California Timeline
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.
Progress and Growth of the Port of Los Angeles
The progress and growth of Los Angeles Harbor since 1920 are without precedent among the leading ports of the world. The Port of Los Angeles has developed a seaport of major standing in the world of commerce and reached the enviable position among American ports of being first in intercoastal tonnage, second in export tonnage and third in total commerce.
Olympics Opening Ceremony
During the 1932 Olympics, Los Angeles drew over one million spectators despite the Great Depression, using the global spotlight to boost its international profile and accelerate regional growth—helping 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, FDR used the moment to champion reciprocal trade agreements and reduce barriers to international commerce—laying the groundwork for a more open, cooperative global economy.
Port of Long Beach
By 1930, the Port of Long Beach was already surging as a trade gateway—opening Pier A that year to handle expanding cargo demand after the port surpassed 1 million tons of cargo just a few years earlier. This early growth helped set the stage for the region’s rise as a global trade powerhouse.
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 requisitioned all merchant vessels, ending commercial shipping and placing all 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 new Air Transport Command, redirecting aircraft, crews, and routes toward military logistics and international supply corridors.
WWII Brings Changes to Global Trade
Global Trade was affected by the war in that the ports were asked to convert to war-time efforts only. Trade slowed down, but wartime production went up. This was also a time when the Ports allowed women in the workforce, while the men went off to battle, giving them valuable professional experience outside the home.
World Trade Week Poster
By the 1950s, post‑war 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.
Containerization
The invention of Shipping Containers revolutionized international trade along all ports. Port of LA and Port of Long Beach responded accordingly, restructuring to support the new demands which resulted in major upgrades in efficiency, faster shipping times, and amounts of items that could be handled in a given day.
In these photos from the Port of LA, the containers can 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.
LAX Expansion
The Los Angeles airport began expanding to look more like the modern airport we know today during this decade. You can see the building out of the terminals in these early plans.
POLB - 50th Anniversary Magazine
This special magazine issue details the history of the Port of Long Beach's first 50 years and celebrates the growth of numerous new piers. It details future building plans to expand, such as Pier J.
LAX Theme Building Construction
In 1961, LAX’s now‑iconic Theme Building rose into the Jet Age with its dramatic parabolic arches—900 tons of steel forming a futuristic “flying saucer” at the airport’s center.
50th Golden Anniversary brocure
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 toward the high‑volume era that would eventually reach over 9.7 million TEUs annually in later decades, cementing the region’s role as a powerhouse gateway for U.S.–Asia commerce.
POLB - Pier J Completion
Pier J was one such upgrade at the Port of Long Beach. Here you can see the completed pier and the containers being moved by crane. Before this system, people would breakdown cargo into smaller parts and disseminate it to its many destinations. This laborious and time consuming process could now be streamlined!
Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
The Olympic Games returned to Los Angeles in 1984. At this time, the IOC was struggling to find cities interested in hosting the Olympics because of the financial burden. This second round, LA proved how to financially support an endeavor like this, utilizing private corporate funding, existing sport arenas, and more. That year's Games made a $250 million profit. In this photo of the Opening Ceremonies, thousands of spectators link hands as the motto "Make This World A Better Place" flashes on the screen.
Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
The Olympic Games returned to Los Angeles in 1984. At this time, the IOC was struggling to find cities interested in hosting the Olympics because of the financial burden. This second round, LA proved how to financially support an endeavor like this, utilizing private corporate funding, existing sport arenas, and more. That year's Games made a $250 million profit. In this photo of the Opening Ceremonies, thousands of spectators link hands as the motto "Make This World A Better Place" flashes on the screen.
1986
60th WTW brochure
By the 1980s, global trade through Southern California was accelerating fast—container traffic at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach surged past 1.5 million TEUs annually mid‑decade, reflecting a shift toward high‑volume Pacific Rim commerce. At the same time, LAX expanded as a major international cargo gateway, riding the rise of long‑haul air freight that helped connect Southern California’s growing industries to markets worldwide.
Alameda Corridor
A new rail line called the Alameda Corridor begins construction to allow trains from Port of LA and Port of LB to access Downtown LA, bringing cargo straight to Union Station.
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 features global trade icons—including a globe, ship, and compass—symbolizing 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 year when Southern California’s airports played a pivotal role in global commerce. Los Angeles World Airports reported that over $300 billion in imports and exports moved through the region’s combined air and seaport gateways during this period, underscoring the critical role of air cargo in sustaining international trade flows.
2010 WTW: Gov 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, a 16% surge in container traffic driven by rising exports and renewed economic activity. 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
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.
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.