More than 270 trade associations, including importers, exporters, logistics providers, manufacturers, retailers, farmers and more asked the president Oct. 2 to immediately reopen the ports and get the two sides talking with the help of a federal mediator. President Joe Biden has issued a statement that suggests he sides with the strikers, and his press secretary said he would not invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to force an end to the strike.

The American Chemistry Council said that 90% of liquid chemicals imported and exported go through ports that are closed by the dockworkers strike. "The chemicals that are shipped to and from these ports are used by every segment of the world's economy, including chemistry needed to support healthcare, advanced energy, agriculture, auto manufacturing, building and construction, household products, aerospace and defense, semiconductor chips and electronics, and more," the trade group said. The imports and exports in 2022 were worth more than $100 billion.

A labor strike at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports appears poised to occur just after midnight on Oct. 1, despite any last-ditch efforts as of press time to prevent the strike from occurring.

As the U.S. supply chain readies itself for a potential labor strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports on Oct. 1, CBP and transportation and logistics providers are helping the trade community develop their Plan Bs.

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, along with more than 175 trade organizations, have asked President Joe Biden to urge the United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association to resume negotiations for a new labor agreement before Oct. 1, the date that ILA members might go on strike at container terminals at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports.

Houston's sea ports and airports are asking shippers that use the region to be patient as it recovers from Hurricane Beryl, according to a July 12 email sent by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America to its members.

This summer could see the highest levels of U.S. import container volumes since 2022, the National Retail Federation said June 10.

President Joe Biden should support workers in the Baltimore region that were affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge (see 2403260047) the same way maritime workers were supported during the COVID-19 pandemic, Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel wrote in a letter to the White House dated April 23. Bentzel said the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, could act as an example. The White House didn't respond to our request for comment.

A Texas shipper accused major Chinese ocean carrier Cosco Shipping Lines of violating U.S. shipping regulations through unfair detention and demurrage charges, costing it nearly $2 million in damages. Visual Comfort & Co, a shipper of lighting products, said Cosco “refused” to extend free days for containers that couldn’t be returned to the port and declined to divert shipments to less crowded ports, allowing the carrier to charge “astronomical” D&D fees.

Correction: Terminal operators at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports will raise their traffic mitigation fee by 4% starting Nov. 1, the West Coast Marine Terminal Operator Agreement (WCMTOA) said in a news release (see 2310020071).