On December 20, 2012, the Journal of Commerce (JOC) issued an update on  the negotiations between the International Longshore Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), saying that the ILA workers have been advised to prepare for a strike starting December 30, as negotiations stopped on Tuesday.

The article mentions that if a strike occurs once the contract expires on December 29, ILA workers will not process containerized cargo. However, unfrozen perishable shipments, certain containerized military goods, mail, passenger ships, non-containerized shipments and vehicles will be processed.

Expeditors will continue to monitor the situation, and will provide more information as it becomes available.

The JOC article is available online here.