Statement of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition upon the extension of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association contract. ILWU and PMA have announced the extension of the current ILWU – PMA contract for another three years, through June 30, 2022. The AgTC is pleased with this result, but it must be the start down a difficult path, not the end.  Operational stability at the West Coast marine terminals is essential if our members, the US agriculture and forest products exporters, are to remain dependable providers to global markets. Our foreign customers have demonstrated they can and will source what they need from other countries, if our ports do not operate dependably. It is an understatement to say that operational stability has been lacking at west coast terminals during recent longshore labor contract negotiations resulting in significant losses of export and import sales and customers. Removing one cause of port operational disruption, labor negotiations, is thus highly valued and appreciated by AgTC members.  Yet the world is not standing still. The pressure of an increasingly competitive global marketplace for agriculture and forest products, continues to impact US exporters. More and more countries are increasing agriculture and forest products production and export capacity. They are improving their infrastructure and supply chain productivity. So for our members to remain competitive, our export supply chain productivity must also improve. The status quo is not acceptable. Who knows best how to make the necessary improvements? Larger ships require additional marine terminal infrastructure. Rail to reduce congestion is essential. Our nation’s truck weight limits must be adjusted. (US interstate truck weights are absurdly inconsistent with world standards, lower than Canada, Mexico, Asian and European standards. For every two trucks that our competitors use to send their ag exports to inland or marine terminals, the US exporter must send three, resulting in higher costs, and more trucks and unnecessary congestion at the terminals.) Both PMA and ILWU should be concerned with the trend of cargo shifting from west coast ports to east and Gulf ports. Both PMA and ILWU should be concerned when our overseas customers shift sourcing from US farmers and processors, to foreign sources. Who knows best how to reverse this trend, to improve West coast marine terminal productivity/efficiency? It is those who work at the terminals – the labor and management.  Some issues will be difficult, but failure to address them now will lead to more losses for all those with a stake in west coast marine terminals, including those who ship through them. Is there adequate technology and equipment investment? Are manning levels appropriate? Is there a way to avoid shutting down west coast marine terminals each day for lunch period? Is 27 to 29 container crane moves per hour the best we can do? How does the union maintain the professionalism of its membership; do terminal operators engage with the truckers? Will the port authorities or Federal Maritime Commission shine the light of day on the terminals’ PierPass scheme? West Coast labor contract extension/ stability is critical and welcomed, but it is not an end in itself. It must be the beginning of a sustained effort to improve the status quo. Improvements cannot be imposed from without – it should come from those who work at and operate terminals. The AgTC has a long history of dialogue with port authorities, terminal operators, ocean carriers, truckers and labor. Over the past 5 years we have engaged in confidential and constructive face-to-face discussions with ILWU leadership up and down the coast. We stand ready, even eager, to support all efforts to keep US west coast ports viable, so that our US agriculture exports remain globally competitive.