"Long Beach still offers a prism on the global economy, and on US trade in particular. The airborne share of trade is declining as the efficiency of seaborne trade grows. Los Angeles and Long Beach are spending over $5 billion between them on infrastructure to cope with ever-larger ships... The outlook is strong: a 2009 report predicted a doubling of container traffic at LA/Long Beach by 2030. A proposed Pacific free-trade agreement could boost maritime trade further." (Quoted from article)