A coalition forty-one associations representing US manufacturers, farmers, wholesalers, retailers, and transportation and logistics providers wrote President Obama and the Congress requesting federal intervention to reopen the nation’s busiest seaport complex. The Coalition urged the President “to take immediate action and use whatever means necessary, including Taft-Hartley, to get labor back to work in the nation’s largest port” as the strike enters its seventh day.
News / Supply Chain Alerts
The talks between the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association, a group representing 14 steamship lines and terminals, and clerical workers represented by the International Longshore Workers Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU) broke down last week. Below is a recap of the situation and information on the status of each terminal.
Associated Press
Striking workers shut down the largest terminal at the Port of Los Angeles for a second day on Wednesday, ignoring an arbitrator’s order to return to work and raising the possibility of a larger job action that could paralyze the nation’s busiest port complex.
President Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Myanmar, also known as Burma, where he praised the country’s progress in moving toward democracy and called for further reforms. Ahead of President Obama’s visit, the Treasury and State Departments announced that they were waiving the ban on imports from Burma, although the importation of certain jades and rubies is still prohibited.
TruckingInfo.com
Hurricane Sandy could knock out power and flood highways in heavily populated areas such as New York City and Washington, D.C., as it comes ashore today, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has declared a regional emergency, allowing for exception from some regulations for motor carriers providing emergency materials.
The U.S. FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”) imposes new requirements on companies that supply food, food ingredients, beverages, pet foods or dietary supplements for consumption in the United States.
joc.com
International Longshoremen’s Association and employer representatives discussed “a number of major issues” in two days of contract negotiations this week, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said.
The Brazilian Board of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) approved temporary Import Duty increases for 100 products, effective the first of October. The increased duty particularly affects the steel, petrochemicals, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and capital good sectors. The increases will remain in effect for 12 months, but can be extended until December 31, 2014