www.joc.com THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE 21
TRANS-PACIFIC
MARITIME
SPECIAL
REPORT
THE ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS of the
trans-Pacific trade are strengthen-
ing, setting the stage for what would
normally generate rapid growth in
container volumes, especially in the
eastbound trade.
But this isn't a normal year. The
work slowdowns at West Coast ports
and the resulting congestion are dam-
aging the outlook for the trade, even
with the tentative agreement the Inter-
national Longshore and Warehouse
Union and Pacific Maritime Associa-
tion reached on Feb. 20.
Even with an ILWU
agreement, lingering
congestion dampens
the trans-Pacific
trade outlook
By Peter T. Leach
WEST COAST
HANGOVER
