US west coast farm interest have issued a plea to the dockers union and maritime employers to avoid even minor disruptions in terminal operators during their contract talks.
The Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) farm lobby said they hoped to avoid a repeat of disruptions during the 2014-2015 contract negotiations.
'In addition to financial injury, the human toll on those who attempt to keep their ag products moving is heartbreaking,' said the AgTC.
In its plea to the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the agtc is urging restraint from both parties.
'We ask that labour and employers not forget what's at stake for the ag exporters (and importers) who depend upon the West Coast gateways.'
In a statement released on May 10th, AgTC said that exporters are already challenged by recent supply chain disruptions and congestion at US ports.
'Massive inflows of cargo, marine terminal congestion, lack of schedule integrity, needed port-wide information portals, ocean carrier business priorities and practices, as well as container and chassis shortages, rail service limitations, have collectively made US agriculture exporting extremely challenging, imposing billions of dollars of additional costs on the cargo that does ship, and even more costs in lost sales,'
In addition to financial losses suffered by exporters there is the human toll: 'In addition to financial injury, the human toll on those who attempt to keep their ag products moving is heartbreaking,' said the AgTC.
Congress has recognized the severity of losses suffered by agricultural exporters and is preparing legislation to regulate ocean carrier practices that have adversely impacted exporters.
'The crisis confronting agriculture is recognized throughout the federal and state governments. Both the US Senate and House of Representatives are rapidly advancing new ocean shipping legislation, specifically impacting carrier and marine terminal practices, for the first time in over two decades,' said the AgTC.
SeaNews Turkey
The Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) farm lobby said they hoped to avoid a repeat of disruptions during the 2014-2015 contract negotiations.
'In addition to financial injury, the human toll on those who attempt to keep their ag products moving is heartbreaking,' said the AgTC.
In its plea to the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the agtc is urging restraint from both parties.
'We ask that labour and employers not forget what's at stake for the ag exporters (and importers) who depend upon the West Coast gateways.'
In a statement released on May 10th, AgTC said that exporters are already challenged by recent supply chain disruptions and congestion at US ports.
'Massive inflows of cargo, marine terminal congestion, lack of schedule integrity, needed port-wide information portals, ocean carrier business priorities and practices, as well as container and chassis shortages, rail service limitations, have collectively made US agriculture exporting extremely challenging, imposing billions of dollars of additional costs on the cargo that does ship, and even more costs in lost sales,'
In addition to financial losses suffered by exporters there is the human toll: 'In addition to financial injury, the human toll on those who attempt to keep their ag products moving is heartbreaking,' said the AgTC.
Congress has recognized the severity of losses suffered by agricultural exporters and is preparing legislation to regulate ocean carrier practices that have adversely impacted exporters.
'The crisis confronting agriculture is recognized throughout the federal and state governments. Both the US Senate and House of Representatives are rapidly advancing new ocean shipping legislation, specifically impacting carrier and marine terminal practices, for the first time in over two decades,' said the AgTC.
SeaNews Turkey