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A coalition of 238 national, state and local trade associations — including American Trucking Associations — wrote to President Joe Biden on March 24, urging the administration to take a more active role in the West Coast port labor negotiations.

A combination of the Lunar New Year, and concerns over labor talks and a slowing global economy resulted in a 43% drop in container cargo at the Port of Los Angeles in February.

The White House’s supply chain envoy said the ports and logistics industry must move toward automation, a sticking point in protracted contract talks between U.S. West Coast dockworkers and their employers.

As negotiations resume between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and management’s Pacific Maritime Association, concern is mounting at the West Coast ports that the slow pace of contract talks is damaging import and export shipping business.

Wisconsin has awarded $5.3 million in grants for seven harbor maintenance and improvement projects to enhance its waterborne freight and economic development.

Labor unrest took an unusually heavy toll on ports around the world in 2022, and the outlook for continued economic instability could bring even more upheaval to global supply chains in 2023.

As the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association continue to negotiate, the head of one of the nation’s busiest ports said he thinks a labor agreement may not be reached until February.

Ongoing concern about labor and management talks regarding two separate contract negotiations and a slowing U.S. economy resulted in a big drop in container volume at two of the nation’s biggest ports on the Pacific Coast.

Already the No. 1 inland port in North America, Laredo is expected to further solidify its position and see substantial trade growth according to local leaders thanks to the planned addition of a second international railway bridge.

Additional funding for the country’s ports was recently announced as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to facilitate the movement of freight along key supply chains.