Dive Brief:

• Dock work continues even as talks between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union went past its June 30 deadline, but some delays are expected as dockworkers labor without a contract.

• The labor contract between port terminals and shipping lines of the PMA and workers in the ILWU, which have been at the table together several times since the 1930s, affects the entire U.S. west coast. The negotiations involve some 20,000 workers at 30 ports.

• Observers have noted a positive tone to the talks, leading many to hope that the extension, which could go to mid-July, is a sign of a resolution to come. Historically the talks have gone past the deadline, but sometimes involve hostilities.

Dive Insight:

West coast port disruptions could deal a major blow to retailers depending on cargo containers arriving on time, especially as holiday inventory planning looms. The ports affected handle more than a third of the cargo coming and going into and out of the U.S. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has released its set of procedures in case of such a disruption, which the National Retail Federation estimates could cost the economy some $2.5 billion daily.