Strikes at Canada’s key ports, Vancouver and Prince Rupert, have disrupted trade, impacting U.S. supply chains and placing goods shipments in limbo. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 initiated strikes early Monday, halting container traffic. Vancouver alone handles $800 million in trade daily, with about 20% of U.S. imports from Canada routed through these ports.
The strikes follow failed negotiations after the ILWU contract expired in March. Workers, who voted overwhelmingly for a strike, are seeking improved wages and working conditions, while automation remains a key sticking point. Meanwhile, similar disruptions are affecting Montreal’s port, Canada’s second-largest.
U.S.-bound shipments of automotive parts, chemicals, and perishable items are especially at risk. Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways have paused shipments to affected ports, complicating cross-border trade that reached $382 billion in the first half of the year.
Logistics experts warn of prolonged delays, recalling a July 2023 Canadian port strike that took months to resolve. As shipping routes shift to U.S. West Coast ports, congestion may worsen at already strained hubs like Los Angeles and Long Beach, further delaying holiday season inventory replenishments.
