ACD Press Release

Arlington, VA – Today, National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) President and CEO Eric R. Byer released the following statement calling on the White House and the Biden Administration to help resolve the ongoing labor contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) after ongoing recent port closures:

“Businesses across the nation have navigated one challenge after another when it comes to the supply chain. Just as maritime trade was reaching some semblance of ‘business as usual,’ the unresolved labor contract negotiations between the PMA and ILWU have created severe disruptions and delays across several ports. As chemical distributors and our customers know, the repercussions of delays and backups at the largest ports in the nation, like the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Seattle, create additional strain and uncertainty that will be felt far beyond the actual shutdowns. This disruption places significant pressure on an already fragile system and increases the prices of essential chemical goods that are used in nearly every U.S. industry.

“It’s clear that we have yet another potential supply chain crisis before us. NACD calls on the leadership of the White House and within the Biden Administration to help mediate these contentious labor contract negotiations to ensure we have a secure and reliable supply chain in the months and years to come.”

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NACD and its over 400 member and Affiliate companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third party-verified management practice. For more information on NACD, visit www.nacd.com.