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Posted June 15, 2015

TODAY: Senate voted 97-1 to Extend GSP/AGOA/Haiti Preferences, Customs Auth Bill, TPA Legislation

Ray Bucheger

Update on TPA Vote:

The Senate voted Yes today on a cloture motion for a combined TPA/Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) bill. A cloture vote is a procedural vote that is required to avoid a filibuster. The vote means the Senate will proceed to debate on the TPA/TAA bill with a final vote likely happening next week

Update on Customs Bill:

Moments ago the Senate passed the Customs bill by a vote of 78-20.

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Posted June 15, 2015

The West Coast ports are expected to return to “normal” by the end of May, but it may not be the “normal” that it was before the contract negotiations began. With bigger ships and more of them, the ports will have to work harder than ever to avoid congestion and keep cargo moving without delays. Truck turn times at some terminals have improved, lasting between 70 and 90 minutes. However, others still average above 100 minutes.

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Posted May 7, 2015

While there is still Teamster action on the US West Coast, congestion in the East Coast ports continues to plague importers and exporters. The lines to get into the NJ ports were so long last week that a New Jersey Turnpike exit was sporadically closed to prevent further back up on the highway. With more services coming into the East Coast, and larger ships coming in from Asia, the East Coast ports may continue to suffer congestion, especially with some importers continuing to divert their cargo.
According to the Journal of Commerce, the trend of diverting cargo is likely to continue.

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Posted May 7, 2015

The four-day trucker strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach concluded last Friday, May 1st. The strikers, backed by the Teamsters Union, protested against four trucking firms and accused them of “defying state and federal labor enforcement decisions” through misclassifying the truckers as independent contractors rather than as employees.

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Posted May 7, 2015

Today, Thursday, April 30th, marks day four of the trucker strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Truckers continue to protest against being classified as independent contractors and instead want to be considered as employees with the right to join a labor union.

With the truckers picketing at both cargo and rail terminals, both ports have experienced delays in cargo movement.

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