Businesses are preparing for a strike by dockworkers on the East and Gulf Coasts, which could begin Oct. 1 if negotiations don’t yield a new contract.

A strike could disrupt the delivery of billions of dollars’ worth of consumer goods during peak shipping season. About 60% of America’s containerised trade would be affected. The value of containerised imports at the 36 ports amounted to $588bn last year. A strike would shut five of the ten busiest ports in North America.

Dock workers seeking better workplace protections and increased wages are threatening to strike and the outcome could lead to a banana shortage.

By Lisa Baertlein and David Shepardson LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Officials from President Joe Biden's administration are monitoring labor talks but not trying to broker a labor deal to avert an Oct.

Plus, a strike at three dozen US ports could upend supply chains and raise prices just weeks before Election Day. The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino.

Just as US policymakers shift focus from curbing inflation to shoring up the job market, the economy faces a jolt that threatens the kind of supply-chain disruption and consumer discontent rife during the pandemic.

New York area shipping officials urged customers to immediately retrieve their cargo ahead of a possible strike next week which would impact major US ports, according to a letter released Tuesday.

The first major strike in more than forty years to affect Louisiana's ports could begin as soon as next week and threatens to severely disrupt the supply chain from Texas