Farm groups urge White House to avoid disruption of East Coast port, by Reuters

By David Shepardson and Jarrett Renshaw

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Farm groups called on the White House on Wednesday to act to prevent a potential strike that could begin on Oct. 1 at U.S. Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, which handle about half of the country’s ocean imports.

Dozens of groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Chemistry Council, said “it’s time for the U.S. government to step in and make sure port operations don’t grind to a halt” to prevent damage to agriculture and the US economy.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz expressed concern about the impact of a work stoppage, saying the U.S. was “teetering on the brink of the first union strike between Eastern and Gulf Coast ports since 1977.” He cited a JPMorgan analysis that estimated a port strike could cost the U.S. economy $5 billion a day.

Negotiations between the International Association of Liquidators union and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group appear to be deadlocked over wages as the September 30 contract expiration approaches.

The White House did not immediately comment on the letter.

“We are monitoring and evaluating potential ways to address impacts to U.S. supply chains related to our port operations, if necessary,” White House spokeswoman Robyn Patterson said Tuesday, adding that officials encourage continued negotiations “for a agreement that benefits all parties and prevents anything. disturbance”.

President Joe Biden’s administration has said the president does not plan to invoke a federal law known as the Taft-Hartley Act to prevent a strike.

A threatened strike by 45,000 workers represented by the ILA at three dozen affected ports, including New York and New Jersey, Houston and Savannah, Georgia, would send delays and costs cascading through U.S. supply chains.

About 40 percent of U.S. containerized agricultural exports move through East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, agricultural groups said.