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Nation’s busiest ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California is facing brutal congestion of containers that come into the U.S. Each year, about 40 percent of the containers coming into the U.S are filled with TVs, iPhones and clothes.

Now, after months of surplus congestion that has left the Long Beach coast crowded with cargo ships waiting to be unloaded. The twin ports along with 27 others along the West Coast are on the verge of shutting down, potentially endangering the nation’s trade with Asia. Fears of a shutdown increased on Friday .

“This could have serious impact on the economy,” said Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation. “The escalating rhetoric, the threats, the dueling press releases and the inability to find common ground between the two sides are simply driving up the cost of products, jeopardizing American jobs and threatening the long-term viability of businesses large and small.”

The president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Robert McEllrath has called the threats of shutdown “reckless and irresponsible” and said there are only few issues remaining  that can be easily resolved.

Tony Scioscia, a shipping consultant and former Pacific Maritime Association board member said the 2002 lockout at West coast ports was so painful for both the shipping industry and unions. It took 100 days to return to normal operations.

AW: Smrutirekha