Some crop shipments to be halted as rail strike looms amid more talks in Washington

Reported by Washington Times:

Some U.S. railroads will start halting crop shipments on Thursday ahead of a threatened national strike, as Labor Secretary Marty Walsh hosted talks with freight railroad and union officials in Washington. 

Max Fisher, chief economist at the National Grain and Feed Association, which represents most U.S. grain handlers, told Reuters that rail customers reported at least one railway would stop taking grain shipments on Thursday morning.

Most major U.S. railways have already stopped accepting new shipments of ammonia fertilizer and other potentially hazardous materials, Justin Louchheim, senior government affairs director at The Fertilizer Institute, an industry group, told Reuters. 

Mr. Walsh on Wednesday met with negotiators from both sides in an effort to avert a rail shutdown that could come as early as Friday and would disrupt cargo shipments nationwide. About 30% of cargo in the U.S. would be affected, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is warning it could have a major negative impact on the economy overall. 

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday that “all parties need to stay at the table, bargain in good faith to resolve outstanding issues and come to an agreement.”

A freight rail system shutdown “is (an) unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people and all parties must work to avoid just that,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said.

Source:Washington Times