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West Coast Collaboration Promotes Advantages: Industry, Government

Press Releases, Seaport
March 10th, 2010

Press Releases

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2010

U.S. West Coast Collaboration Promotes Advantages with Industry, Government

The U.S. West Coast Collaboration took its message to the Transpacific Maritime (TPM) Conference in Long Beach last week: the U.S. West Coast is the optimal gateway for Asia cargo to and from the U.S. interior, including cities in America's heartland and further east.

The Collaboration consists of the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Portland, Seattle and Tacoma, as well as the BNSF Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad.

The Collaboration began last year at the World Shipping Summit in Qingdao, China. Since then Collaboration partners have made joint calls on members of Congress, participated in a National Port Summit with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and conducted a joint promotional program at the Retail Industry Leaders Association's Logistics Conference.

Collaboration members are promoting the benefits of the U.S. West Coast as the premier region for trans-Pacific trade, by highlighting the West Coast's advantages, which include: dozens of fast, frequent vessel services; six deepwater ports with excellent connections to key markets across North America; consistent, reliable inland rail service and capacity; a competitive cost structure; and the lowest overall carbon footprint for goods moving between Asia and markets in the U.S.

In addition to the panel discussion at the TPM Conference, the Collaboration hosted a luncheon with support from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association.

The Collaboration also is calling for a national goods movement plan to sustain America's role in global trade, create jobs and maximize the advantages of the West Coast in moving cargo between Asia and the U.S.

Media Contacts:

Port of Oakland
Marilyn Sandifur, Port Spokesperson
Media & Public Relations Department
(510) 627-1193
Click here to contact Marilyn Sandifur