By Lisa Baertlein and David Shepardson

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON- Officials from President Joe Biden’s administration are monitoring labor talks but not trying to broker a labor deal to avert an Oct. 1 strike at US East and Gulf Coast ports that handle roughly half of the country’s ocean imports, administration officials said on Tuesday.

Negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association union and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group appear to be deadlocked over pay as the Sept. 30 contract expiration approaches.

A threatened strike by 45,000 ILA-represented workers at three dozen affected ports, including New York and New Jersey, Houston and Savannah, Georgia, would send delays and costs cascading through US supply chains at a time when rising costs for necessities like food, housing and healthcare have become a pivotal issue in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

“We are monitoring and assessing potential ways to address impacts to US supply chains related to operations at our ports, if necessary,” White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said. “We continue to encourage the parties to continue negotiating towards an agreement that benefits all sides and prevents any disruption,” she said.  – Reuters