Axios House: U.S. trade and tourism officials urge calm, point to bright spots

DAVOS, Switzerland — Surrounded by headlines about threatened tariffs and talk of a new global order, an American port official at an Axios House event last week put it plainly: "Our job is to remain resilient … be the adult in the room."

Why it matters: World Economic Forum attendees had front-row seats to fraying diplomatic relationships, deals and alliances.

Axios' Amy Harder and Dave Lawler spoke with Noel Hacegaba, CEO of the Port of Long Beach in California, and U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. The conversations were sponsored by Tourise.

Driving the news: A chaotic four-day span in the global markets was capped by President Trump touting a "framework of a future deal" with NATO after announcing 10% tariffs on eight allies over his push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.

• "What [President Trump] has done is use tariffs very successfully … as a negotiating tool, strategically, to be able to level the playing field," Guilfoyle told Harder.

What they're saying: "The only certainty really is uncertainty," Hacegaba said.

• "Our job is to remain resilient, to remain calm, be the adult in the room, and encourage our shippers and partners not to overreact, not to panic."

By the numbers: The Port of Long Beach generates "almost 3 million jobs across the country and moves $300 billion worth of goods each year," according to Hacegaba.

• Hacegaba said the port plans to double cargo volume by 2050.

The bottom line: "We have proven time and time again to be the strongest, smartest, most strategic ally flat out in the world globally," Guilfoyle said of the U.S.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

In a View from the Top segment, H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Tourise chairman and Saudi Arabia's tourism minister, emphasized the role travel plays in the global economy.

• Tourism represents "10% of the global economy" and "10% of global jobs — 357 million jobs," with 45% held by women and 80% by youth, he said.

Go deeper: Watch the full interviews on YouTube.