West Coast Ports Closed: NCBA Urges Quick Resolution

In response to the lockout of West Coast longshoremen, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is urging Congress and the Bush administration to make resolving the situation a priority.  NCBA, along with other food industry partners and agricultural organizations, are in communication with congressional and agency offices and are urging policymakers to step in and demonstrate bipartisan leadership to help bring the West Coast lockout to a timely conclusion.

"The White House is monitoring this issue closely," says Wythe Willey, NCBA president and Iowa cattle producer. "Still, continued pressure on Senate and House leadership, agriculture committee leadership, and Finance/Ways and Means committee leadership to resolve this issue is critical." 

Twenty-nine ports from Seattle to San Diego have been closed.  The lockout occurred after a work slowdown when contract negotiations between port employers and the longshoremen failed to reach an agreement. The shutdown could have serious implications for the U.S. cattle and meat industries and other export-dependent agricultural commodities. 

More than 50 percent of all beef exports sold to Asia depart through West Coast ports. During 2001, 55.7 percent of the tonnage and 63 percent of the value of beef and beef variety meat exports totaling more than $2.4 billion were sold in Asian markets. 

Some beef processors have indicated that they will stop processing products for the Asian markets within the week and divert products to cold storage if the situation isn’t resolved.   

Hampered by a weakened economy, low market conditions, and historically-severe drought conditions, American agriculture has already endured significant duress. 

"Exports are vital to U.S. agriculture, and Asian markets are a major part of export demand," says Willey.  "It is important for our economy and we are urging the president to open the ports while the mediators try to work this out."