Global effects of the Canadian longshoremen strike

ON NOV 4, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 walked off the job in a strike, forcing the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert to grind to a standstill. In the wake of the 13-day strike in July 2023 which resulted in months before the backlog could be cleared and normal port operations resumed, logistics professionals are worried about the long-term impacts on trade and goods that are vital for the North American markets, especially with the holiday season approaching.

But more than that, the longshoremen strike in Vancouver and other ports across the province has the potential to send ripples far beyond Canada’s borders, impacting global supply chains in multifaceted ways as we head into 2025.

Immediate disruptions in trade

In an interconnected global economy, supply chains stretch across continents, weaving through a complex network of suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers. Vancouver, with its strategic location on the Pacific Rim, plays a pivotal role in these networks as one of North America’s largest and most significant ports – alongside the port of Prince Rupert, handling some 20 per cent of US imports.