The US Department of Transportation issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing their vigilance towards any attempts by companies to increase prices during the ongoing labor dispute at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. The administration, led by Secretary Pete Buttigieg, emphasized the importance of preventing opportunistic price hikes, particularly by ocean shippers.
The administration called upon ocean carriers to refrain from imposing surcharges during this period of disruption. Secretary Buttigieg highlighted the ethical concern of exploiting such situations for profit, especially as communities are still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
In response to the potential supply chain impacts caused by the labor dispute, the administration assured that they are actively monitoring the situation. They are also evaluating strategies to mitigate any adverse effects that may arise, should the need arise.
