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A longshoreman strike at ports across the East and Gulf coasts would be devastating to the U.S. economy, the NAM told Congress Thursday.

What’s going on: The NAM and other business groups met with members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to brief them on the likely effects of a labor stoppage at several major U.S. ports.

• The current contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance expires Sept. 30, and union members have vowed to strike in the absence of a new agreement.

Why it’s important: Billions of dollars of imported goods—from food to vehicles to electronics—come into the U.S. through East and Gulf Coast ports. A strike would disrupt $2.1 billion a day in containerized trade value, according to NAM calculations, NAM Vice President of Domestic Policy Chris Phalen said.

• Past ports strikes have cost the national economy dearly, as National Retail Federation Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold told the committee.
• Even a strike lasting a few days would have a large negative effect, American Forest & Paper Association Manager of Government Affairs David Ross said, adding that U.S. paper production facilities could be forced to start shuttering temporarily in the event of a strike.

What can be done: Committee members asked how they could help avert a work stoppage at the ports, and the NAM and its allies told them to continue sounding the alarm to the White House.

• The president and his team have stepped in to help in similar situations at least three previous times, Gold said.
• Most recently, following urging by the NAM and allied organizations, the Biden administration helped broker a deal between West Coast dockworkers and their employer.