1. US Shippers Brace for Port Strain as Canada Railways Shut Down.
- Author
-
Mann, Mark and Curtis, Laura
- Subjects
HAZARDOUS substances ,HARBORS ,FREIGHT forwarders ,FREIGHT & freightage ,CARGO handling - Abstract
A near-total rail shutdown in Canada is causing concerns for importers and exporters, as it risks delaying ocean shipments, increasing freight costs, and straining US ports that are already dealing with a surge in cargo. Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. have locked out over 9,000 workers, leading to the diversion of cargo to terminals in Southern California and Washington State. The shutdown is already impacting the movement of products such as wheat, chemicals, and fertilizers. Alternative routes also face uncertainty, as dock foremen in British Columbia are threatening to strike, and there are concerns that US dockworker unions may refuse to unload Canadian freight. The labor issues in Canada coincide with contract talks for dockworkers at major US ports, and some cargo has been rerouted to US west coast ports, which are already dealing with high container volumes. The costs of redirecting cargo and switching to trucks will add up for importers and exporters. The US Chamber of Commerce has warned that the shutdown of Canada's two largest railways will have significant impacts on the American economy. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024