US importers diversifying to east coast ports amid union dispute
Longstanding labour dispute has worsened delays along critical route
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New York
A RECOVERING US economy and stronger dollar have spurred imports from Asia. While that should benefit the California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, a protracted labour dispute there is directing cargo to East Coast rivals.
Seven months of contract negotiations between employers and the union representing 20,000 longshoremen at 29 Pacific ports have exacerbated delays along a critical freight route that handles about half of all US imports. A West Coast lockout in 2002 cost the US economy an estimated US$1 billion a day. The lesson from 12 years ago is to be prepared to switch sea lanes.
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