Debra Phillips, president and CEO of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), has issued an urgent appeal to the Biden administration for immediate intervention to resolve the ongoing U.S. port strikes. Phillips emphasized the critical role the electronics industry plays in the U.S. economy, highlighting the strike’s impact on the industry’s complex supply chain.
“The electronics industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States, and this strike further exacerbates our already challenged supply chains, causing additional disruptions and delays,” Phillips said.
NEMA joins more than 270 other organizations in formally requesting the Biden administration to intervene and mediate the ongoing dispute between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Union (USMX). Phillips pointed out that the strike has halted the transportation of more than $195 million worth of electronics industry products every day, and 30% of the country’s electronics industry imports are now stranded on ships waiting to be unloaded. She stressed that such a blockade could have far-reaching consequences, particularly on the country’s grid infrastructure.
Phillips also noted the impact of the attack on military supply chains and the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, which left millions without power in the Southeast. Due to the outage, critical equipment needed to restore power is currently unavailable.
NEMA urges the Biden administration to use all available tools to expedite contract negotiations and end the strike. “Our industry is critical to ensuring the continued supply of the products and infrastructure Americans rely on,” she concluded.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.