Looming US East and Gulf Coast Port Strike Would Paralyze US Trade
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Looming US East and Gulf Coast Port Strike Would Paralyze US Trade

/ Brief

If a deal is not struck by October 1, 36 ports are likely to shut down, damaging business and consumers right before the peak holiday shopping season—and five weeks out from the election. This brief examines the economic and political ramifications of a strike.

Key Insights

If a deal is not struck by October 1, 36 ports are likely to shut down, damaging business and consumers right before the peak holiday shopping season—and five weeks out from the election. This brief examines the economic and political ramifications of a strike.

Key Insights

  • The sheer size of the combined 36 East and Gulf Coast ports makes them critical to both US and global trade and limits alternative supply chain options for US businesses.
  • A one-week strike could cost the economy $3.78 billion and increase the cost of consumer goods, putting pressure on inflation.
  • The president could force a resolution by using the Taft-Hartley Act, but this would be a political minefield so close to the election.
  • As in many industries, automation is a key sticking point in strike negotiations.
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Author

Erin McLaughlin

Erin McLaughlin Erin McLaughlin

Senior Economist, ESF Center
The Conference Board

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