With the looming threat of a strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) at East and Gulf Coast ports, the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is calling for an urgent and collaborative resolution to the labor dispute as the nation approaches the critical holiday shopping season.

The following statement can be attributed to TIA President & CEO Anne Reinke: “A strike could have severe consequences on our nation’s supply chain, impacting businesses from retail to manufacturing at a time when holiday shipments are peaking. With 43% of U.S. imports moving through these ports, we are already seeing early disruptions in freight movement, and our members are preparing for potential bottlenecks. However, the longer this uncertainty continues, the more likely we’ll see cascading delays.”

The TIA strongly supports ongoing good-faith negotiations between the ILA and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to prevent a costly work stoppage. The impact of a port strike at this time of year would hit every sector, from agricultural producers to retailers trying to stock shelves for the holiday season–with consumers ultimately paying the price.

TIA also urges the Biden administration to closely monitor the situation and stand ready to intervene if necessary to protect the integrity of the U.S. supply chain.