Industry associations are calling on the Biden Administration to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to stop the port strike.
Eric Hoplin, President and CEO of NAW, released the following statement:
The East and Gulf Coast port strike is putting our economy and national security at risk. This strike isn’t just about disrupting a few shipments; it’s about stopping the supply chain and bringing the flow of critical goods to a standstill.
The damage could reach $5 billion a day, with small and mid-sized businesses at risk due to missed deliveries and empty shelves. The Biden administration must use its authority now to stop the strike before the impact becomes irreversible. This is not just about pay or a shipping delays—it’s about our global competitiveness. The ILA’s demands to ban automation in ports will cripple our ability to compete internationally, while ports in Europe and Asia embrace automation and technology to stay ahead.
The administration must act decisively—end this strike, reopen the ports, and ensure the U.S. remains a leader in global trade.
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) issued the following statement:
“ABC urges President Joe Biden to invoke his powers under the Taft-Hartley Act to restore operations at the ports and bring parties to the negotiating table so a contract can be reached with the help of a federal mediator,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of legislative & political affairs. “If the Biden-Harris administration is serious about rebuilding America––and maximizing hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer investments in infrastructure, clean energy and manufacturing––the construction industry simply cannot afford any more supply chain disruptions and additional cost hikes on critical materials.”
“The price of construction materials has already increased by 40% since February 2020 and there have been reports of widespread shortages of key construction materials,” said Swearingen. “Coupled with the construction industry’s skilled labor shortage topping half a million in 2024, these industry headwinds needlessly inflate the cost of federal and federally assisted construction projects and are exacerbated by this administration’s weak leadership and anti-competitive executive actions.”
And NAM made this statement:
Following comments from President Biden that he will not intervene in the strike at East and Gulf Coast ports, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:
Manufacturers call on President Biden to intervene by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, which will force ports to resume operations while negotiations continue.
There will be dire economic consequences on the manufacturing supply chain if a strike occurs for even a brief period. NAM estimates show a strike at the East and Gulf Coast ports would jeopardize $2.1 billion in trade daily, and the total economic damage could reduce GDP by as much as $5 billion per day.
The president can protect manufacturers and consumers by exercising his authority, and we hope he will act quickly.
NAM provided the following background:
NAM estimates find that $2.1 billion worth of trade would be at risk every day, and additional estimates have indicated that a strike would reduce GDP by up to $5 billion per day, only some of which could be recovered as goods are rerouted or after a shutdown ends.
Major Commodities Moving Through East and Gulf Coast Ports
- Imports
- 77.6% of coffee and tea
- 77.2% of beverages and spirits
- 58.5% of medical/surgical instruments
- Exports
- 62.1% of fertilizers
- 76.3% of vehicles
- 78.5% of wood pulp used in Europe for heat, diapers, etc.
- 62.5% of medical/surgical instruments