The likely U.S. longshoreman strike and its implications for agricultural trade

By Joseph Glauber

September 30, 2024

The United States is the world's second largest export destination for agricultural goods after China. The impending U.S. longshoreman and port operator strike-likely to begin at midnight September 30 barring a last-minute resolution-could have significant consequences for developing countries, particularly for those that typically ship a majority of exports to ports on the U.S. East and Gulf of Mexico Coasts where the strikes will be targeted.

The strikes will also disrupt U.S. agricultural exports, and while the quantity of trade affected will likely be less than that for imports, it will have important consequences, particularly for those importing countries that depend on U.S. supplies of those products. This post briefly reviews what is at stake for developing countries if the strikes are prolonged.