Please use the link below for a glance at the upcoming events for the week of February 3.
Author: Caroline Berry
2025 Journal of Commerce ARO
The Journal of Commerce has released its Annual Review and Outlook (ARO) issue for 2025. This publication highlights key industry leaders and organizations, showcasing their contributions and insights into the evolving landscape of global trade and logistics.
Michael Symonanis, chairman of the ACSA Transportation & Insurance Committee, is a contributor to the 2025 ARO where he states, “Timely issuance of clean ocean bills of lading and consistent CRW notifications will be essential to guarantee smoother operations across the supply chain, ensuring U.S. containerized exports, such as cotton, remain competitive against foreign competitors.” (p. 12)
Other ACSA members are also featured, such as Georgia Ports Authority (p. 40), IMC Companies (p. 77), Port of Long Beach (p. 48), and Port of Los Angeles (p. 48).
Port Strike Updates
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a tentative agreement to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025.
A press report from yesterday indicates that key leadership from the ILA and the USMX held a “secret meeting” on Sunday to try to make headway on the automation issue in advance of the negotiations that resume today. More here.
Articles of Interest
- ILA union and port owners held secret meeting on automation as new strike looms, CNBC (1/6)
- Reality Check: Inside the Debate Over Automation at America’s Ports, gCaptain (1/6)
- Dockworkers resume labor talks, focusing on automation at ports, Fast Company (1/6)
- US east coast port talks set to resume, Splash 247.com (1/6)
- Strike threat lingers at ports as January 15 deadline nears, DC Velocity (1/6)
- Report: ILA, USMX met on port automation, FreightWaves (1/7)
Ag Trade Groups Urge Action on Port Labor Dispute
Agricultural trade groups, including the American Cotton Shippers Association, have urged President Biden and President-elect Trump to address labor disputes at East and Gulf Coast ports. In letters sent yesterday, the group highlighted the urgency of a new agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance before the contract expires on January 15, 2025. The groups warned that prolonged shutdowns could disrupt $1.4 billion in weekly agricultural trade, with 40% of U.S. agricultural exports dependent on these ports, and harm U.S. competitiveness.
Letter to President Biden here.
Letter to President-elect Trump here.
Joint Coalition Letter to ILA & USMX
The American Cotton Shippers Association, along with over 260 local, state, and federal trade associations, signed onto a letter urging the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to resume contract negotiations.
CBP Update Isotopic Testing Guidance
Last week, the Customs Border Protection (CBP) released updated guidance on isotopic testing, as the agency seeks to find more efficient mechanisms for determining the origin of cotton within U.S. textile imports. The document states “… CBP is enhancing its isotopic testing capabilities at three of its laboratories. As a result of these efforts, CBP will not only be able to conduct more tests, but also obtain results more rapidly. However, even with these additional investments, CBP will have limited testing resources and does not have the capacity to test all U.S imports. This is why CBP continues to encourage the inclusion of private sector testing in importer due diligence programs to help identify and manage risk.”
Briefing on Hurricane Helene
On October 28, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a briefing on the coordinated inter-agency response to the agricultural impact of Hurricane Helene. See below for takeaways, discussion points, and other details.
Joint Coalition Letter to President Biden
Today, a letter was sent to President Biden, signed by the American Cotton Shippers Association and more than 270 other local, state, and federal trade associations. The letter urged President Biden and his administration to use all of its authorities to end the port strike, get the ports open, and get the parties back to the negotiating table.
Letter on Shipping Disruptions
The American Cotton Shippers Association and almost 200 other organizations sent a letter to President Biden today, urging the Administration to “urgently pursue all avenues to mitigate the supply chain challenges facing U.S. agriculture.” With a significant portion of the U.S. cotton crop being exported out of the East Coast and Gulf Coast, a port strike would be detrimental to our ability to get U.S. cotton to our international customers.
Letter on East and Gulf Coast Port Operations
Today, the American Cotton Shippers and 55 other agricultural stakeholders sent a letter to the Biden administration asking them to “act before a lockout or strike occurs to prevent damage to U.S. agriculture and the economy.”
