Today, National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) President and CEO Eric R. Byer released the following statement on the ongoing labor contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) after the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were temporarily closed earlier this month:

“Our nation’s ports, particularly the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, are critical to our economy. The ongoing and unresolved labor contract negotiations between the PMA and ILWU place additional unnecessary strain on our supply chain, resulting in significant delays and increased prices for American businesses and consumers.

“For nearly a year, businesses across the nation have experienced a transfer of cargo shipments away from West Coast ports due to the uncertainty posed by these labor negotiations. Recent temporary port closures have proven that these longstanding tensions threaten the timely shipment of critical goods, including chemicals that are essential to nearly every U.S. industry. NACD urges PMA and ILWU to continue their negotiations in good faith to prevent further disruptions and avoid an escalation that would exacerbate existing issues and jeopardize America’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. It is imperative that both parties reach an agreement that will not only provide certainty to our shipping partners but increase port productivity and reliability while ensuring a stable workforce.”

On March 24, 2023, NACD joined more than 235 organizations in a letter calling on the Biden administration to work with both parties to quickly reach a new agreement that will minimize disruptions to port operations and cargo fluidity.