West Coast Port Dispute | | Dock Settlement Reached | U.S. West Coast longs...

West Coast Port Dispute

Dock Settlement Reached

U.S. West Coast longshoremen and port employers on Saturday reached a tentative six-year contract deal, bringing to an end a bitter dispute that led to a 10-day shutdown of the docks that handle more than half of U.S. trade. The deal between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents port employers, includes provisions both sides were seeking.

Employers got the go ahead to introduce labor-saving technology on the docks while the 10,500-member union gained wage and pension increases. The agreement is likely to win approval from a majority of the 10,500, who will probably vote in early January

Although the exact impact of the strike on the U.S. red meat industry is difficult to assess, USMEF members have reported lost sales and, in some cases, incurred additional expense to deliver product committed to retailers for promotional efforts. (See Nov. 4, 2002 Export Newsline)

New Zealand

Pork Shortage Affects Christmas Ham Season

New Zealand is suffering a pork shortage, which may affect the supply of hams this Christmas, according to a report in the New Zealand press. Sow infertility problems in the country’s South Island during the middle of the year and the effects of the West Coast Port dispute on imports of Canadian pork created the shortage. One-third of pork consumed in New Zealand comes from Canada or Australia. Australia has a pork shortage because of drought, and New Zealand now has a shortage of processed pork items.

New Zealand pork production is expected to be down about 10 percent, but the shortage is likely to be over in the New Year.

New Zealand bans the import of uncooked pork (except for further processing) from the United States on the unscientific grounds that the hog diseases PRRS and pseudo rabies occur in the U.S. herd.  New Zealand allows imports of cooked U.S. pork (please refer to the online FSIS Export Library (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/export/explib.htm for export requirements).