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AF&PA Responds to Port Strike Suspension

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement regarding the recent strike suspension of ILA workers across the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports.

“We commend the ILA and USMX for agreeing to suspend this strike to avoid additional consequences for the U.S. economy and the manufacturing sector. We encourage both parties to come to a new agreement quickly to ensure essential ports operations remain open and avoid a second wave of disruption.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030