Contract negotiations between West Coast longshoremen and container terminal operators faced a breakdown last Friday, as work stoppages effectively closed the Port of Oakland and slowed operations up and down the coast. And that is affecting the shipping of agricultural products, including red meat.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO, Dan Halstrom, explains why the West Coast port labor impasse is of concern for U.S. red meat exports, particularly for chilled product.
This was the first significant work stoppage since Good Friday, when terminal operations at Southern California ports ceased for about 24 hours. But media reports indicate this work stoppage is expected to continue into this week. Halstrom notes the importance of it getting things back to normal as soon as possible.