Proactively Addressing Port Labor Contract Extensions Could Bolster U.S. Meat Exports

Proactively Addressing Port Labor Contract Extensions Could Bolster U.S. Meat Exports

Throughout the Port Labor crisis last year, U.S. meat exports like many other ag products were slowed by the severe congestion at the West Coast’s Ports.
Last week, West Coast port operators represented by the Pacific Maritime Association submitted a formal request to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to begin early negotiations on a contract extension beyond 2019. Although ILWU has not yet responded to the request, U.S Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng says he is encouraged by this development.
Seng: “I am encouraged in the fact that they want to start talking now. I think this is something that we need to do so that we don't have the disruptions that we had in trade in the past. We know that this exerted a tremendous toll on our industry here but internationally it was even more dramatic because every time you redirect a shipment you that means you are working with a customer overseas that is also having to redirect a shipment. As much as this was difficult for our exporters, it was also very difficult for the buyers in these markets sourcing supply. People started sourcing other supply sources other than the United States. In my meetings in North Asia especially there were many concerns about the reliability of the U.S. as a supplier. That is the key thing -- if we can see a willingness to work together and also depending on what role the government can have in this thing. Now there is enough recognition hopefully they will get something done in order to mitigate these kind of problems in the future.”

 

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