Press Releases

Washington, DC – Hundreds of organizations and stakeholders involved in America’s supply chain have called upon the Biden-Harris Administration to do what’s right for the economy and intervene in the ongoing strike at the nation’s East and Gulf Coast ports.

Earlier this week, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL) asked the President to invoke his authority under the Taft-Hartley Act to open the ports and bring parties to the negotiating table.

Here are just some of the many comments from stakeholders asking the Administration to act and ensure that more damage isn’t done to the supply chain and the economy, particularly with the holiday season approaching:

Coalition of over 270 local, state, and federal trade associations:

“On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing American manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, we are calling upon you and the administration to immediately use your authorities to end the strike which has shut down all East Coast and Gulf Coast container ports. Given the dire situation and the massive negative ramifications for our industries and the economy, we implore you to take immediate action to resolve this situation expeditiously…. While we would have all preferred for the collective bargaining process to have worked and the parties to have negotiated and reached a deal, that was not the case. The administration must now step in to not only get the ports open again but work with the parties to resolve the outstanding contract issues.”

Coalition of nearly 200 agriculture supply chain stakeholders:

“We write representing a wide cross-section of the agricultural supply chain facing imminent and severe shipping disruptions due to rail embargoes impacting trade with Mexico, potential labor strikes at East and Gulf Coast ports, and historically low water levels on the Mississippi River. These disruptions will have a ripple effect across the entire United States. We urge your administration to take immediate action to mitigate these growing shipping challenges…. If the parties are unable to reach a resolution before the current labor agreement expires on September 30, the impact on the supply chain will quickly reverberate throughout the agricultural economy, shutting down operations and potentially lowering farmgate prices. It is critical that the administration work with both parties to resume negotiations and avoid work stoppages at the ports.”

Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD):

“ACD urges the Biden Administration to swiftly intervene to resolve this strike by reopening the ports and getting both sides to reach an agreement to prevent further supply chain disruptions and avoid significant economic consequences.”

Food Industry Association (FIA):

“There’s never a good time for a strike. Now, the current strike is compounding the horrific situation in the Southeastern United States resulting from Hurricane Helene and parties need to return to the negotiating table. We must be focused on helping the communities and people devastated by Hurricane Helene. The strike on the East and Gulf Coasts by the International Longshoremen’s Association threatens to make the situation even more dire. This action has already begun to jeopardize food supply chain operations, and the strike has the potential to disrupt the long-term stability of markets and commodities, namely pharmaceuticals, seafood, produce, meat, cheese, ingredients, and packaging.”

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM):

“Manufacturers call on President Biden to intervene by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, which will force ports to resume operations while negotiations continue. There will be dire economic consequences on the manufacturing supply chain if a strike occurs for even a brief period. NAM estimates show a strike at the East and Gulf Coast ports would jeopardize $2.1 billion in trade daily, and the total economic damage could reduce GDP by as much as $5 billion per day. The president can protect manufacturers and consumers by exercising his authority, and we hope he will act quickly.”

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW):

“The East and Gulf Coast port strike is putting our economy and national security at risk. This strike isn’t just about disrupting a few shipments; it’s about stopping the supply chain and bringing the flow of critical goods to a standstill. The damage could reach $5 billion a day, with small and mid-sized businesses at risk due to missed deliveries and empty shelves. The Biden administration must use its authority now to stop the strike before the impact becomes irreversible. This is not just about pay or a shipping delays—it’s about our global competitiveness. The ILA’s demands to ban automation in ports will cripple our ability to compete internationally, while ports in Europe and Asia embrace automation and technology to stay ahead. The administration must act decisively—end this strike, reopen the ports, and ensure the U.S. remains a leader in global trade.”

National Retail Federation (NRF):

“NRF urges President Biden to use any and all available authority and tools — including use of the Taft-Hartley Act — to immediately restore operations at all impacted container ports, get the parties back to the negotiating table and ensure there are no further disruptions. A disruption of this scale during this pivotal moment in our nation’s economic recovery will have devastating consequences for American workers, their families and local communities. After more than two years of runaway inflationary pressures and in the midst of recovery from Hurricane Helene, this strike will result in further hardship for American families. The administration must prioritize our economy — and the millions of Americans who depend on it for their livelihood and wellbeing — and intervene immediately to prevent further hardship and deeper economic consequences.”

Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA):

“With the longshoremen’s strike now in effect, the disruption to our supply chain is both immediate and far-reaching, impacting industries from retail to manufacturing at a crucial time—just as the holiday season begins. As industry experts have noted, for every day of the strike, it will take five to seven days to recover.  Essential goods are at risk of delays and price increases, which will severely affect consumers nationwide. With 43% of U.S. imports moving through these ports, the economic consequences will deepen the longer the strike continues. We strongly urge both the ILA and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to resolve their differences at the bargaining table. Additionally, we call on President Biden to intervene and facilitate a resolution to protect the stability of the U.S. economy and supply chain. The integrity of our supply chain is at stake, and further delays will only worsen the impact on businesses and consumers alike.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

“Americans experienced the pain of delays and shortages of goods during the pandemic-era supply chain backlogs in 2021. It would be unconscionable to allow a contract dispute to inflict such a shock to our economy.  These ports collectively handle more than 68% of all containerized exports and 56% of imports for the nation, with a daily trade value exceeding $2.1 billion. Taft-Hartley would provide time for both parties in negotiation to reach a deal on a new labor contract. We understand labor negotiations are complex, but we urge you to protect our economy by invoking Taft-Hartley and avoiding a work stoppage.”