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US farmers urge ILWU and PMA to recognise Suez and Panama threats
THE US Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) has appealed to management and labour engaged in west coast longshore contract talks to recognise the risk of cargo diversion via the Suez and Panama Canals.
"Trends threaten your terminals, your jobs, and our ability to sell our exports overseas. So it is imperative that you control productivity and cost and mobilise to mitigate long-term risks," the AgTC letter said.
Addressing the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, AgTC said "trends that are out of our control are beginning to determine how much cargo will flow through west coast ports".
These trends are of concern to the AgTC "and should be of concern to you - we are in the same boat," said the letter reported Lloyd's List.
Concerns also include the production shift in electronics, toys, processed foods, footwear, apparel and household goods from north Asia towards the south Asian countries Vietnam, Singapore, Bangladesh and India.
As manufacturing moves south, "it also is moving closer to the Suez Canal ... and what moves through the Suez Canal goes directly to the US east coast ports," said the AgTC.
"East and Gulf coast ports are now being dredged sufficiently deep to handle the latest generation of mega-containerships.
"Like the ports, ILWU, and terminals, we - agriculture and forest products - are stuck. Cotton fields, lumber mills, almond orchards, citrus groves, dairy farms and meat-packing houses cannot and will not move," the letter said.
"Trends threaten your terminals, your jobs, and our ability to sell our exports overseas. So it is imperative that you control productivity and cost and mobilise to mitigate long-term risks," the AgTC letter said.
Addressing the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, AgTC said "trends that are out of our control are beginning to determine how much cargo will flow through west coast ports".
These trends are of concern to the AgTC "and should be of concern to you - we are in the same boat," said the letter reported Lloyd's List.
Concerns also include the production shift in electronics, toys, processed foods, footwear, apparel and household goods from north Asia towards the south Asian countries Vietnam, Singapore, Bangladesh and India.
As manufacturing moves south, "it also is moving closer to the Suez Canal ... and what moves through the Suez Canal goes directly to the US east coast ports," said the AgTC.
"East and Gulf coast ports are now being dredged sufficiently deep to handle the latest generation of mega-containerships.
"Like the ports, ILWU, and terminals, we - agriculture and forest products - are stuck. Cotton fields, lumber mills, almond orchards, citrus groves, dairy farms and meat-packing houses cannot and will not move," the letter said.
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