File photo. 

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia has been appointed Vice Chair of the Ports and Exports Task Force for the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) by the USCM Chair Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Mayor of Baltimore, his office announced Wednesday.

According to release issued by Garcia’s office, the Task Force is a permanent body that works on trade and port issues for the UCSM and with the White House to support trade and security at the nation’s ports.

“To keep our national economy moving, we must strengthen trade and commerce at America’s ports,” said Garcia in a statement. “The Port of Long Beach is a national leader and I am looking forward to sharing best practices and partnering on trade with mayors from across the country.”

Chaired by Mayor Mark Stodola, mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, since 2007, the task force will meet next at the USCM meeting in January in Washington, D.C.