Biggest Drop Since ’09 Hits U.S. Ports as West Coast Suffers

A labor dispute at West Coast ports is dragging on industries from retail to manufacturing, creating a hurdle for the U.S. economic expansion.

The union representing about 20,000 members in 29 ports has been locked in contract negotiations since May. As the disagreement escalates, it’s slowing shipments at entry points including Los Angeles and Long Beach, historically the two biggest in the U.S. by container volume. It has also prompted President Barack Obama to send Labor Secretary Tom Perez to California to help broker a solution.