U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE ISSUED A STATEMENT ON THE WEST COAST PORTS AGREEMENT

USPA NEWS - “This agreement, which provides certainty and keeps our ports open for business, is great news for the parties involved, including the longshoremen, the Pacific Maritime Association, shippers in America and around the world, and the U.S. economy,“ said Secretary Pritzker

“Across the country, American businesses and workers have been affected by this situation, and I have heard many of their concerns and seen the impact firsthand. Negotiation has been takin long months to reach this agreement.-------------------------- “President Obama and his Administration have been focused on helping these parties reach a resolution, with Secretary Perez recently leading efforts to bring negotiations to a successful conclusion. I thank President Obama for his focus on this issue, and I applaud Secretary Perez's work. I was pleased to join Secretary Perez in San Francisco this week to press officials on both sides to end the impasse. With an agreement in place, the parties must work together to clear the backlog quickly so that we continue to demonstrate why America is the best place in the world to do business.“---------------------------------------------- Negotiators have agreed to a tentative contract covering West Coast dockworkers, likely ending a protracted labor dispute that has snarled international trade at seaports handling about $1 trillion worth of cargo annually. Dockworkers union spokesman Craig Merrilees confirmed the agreement Friday evening. It must be approved by the 13,000-member International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which works 29 ports from San Diego to Seattle. (Source : www.krca.com) For more information see : www.commerce.gov---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------