The US Chamber of Commerce has urged President Biden to block the East coast port strike, saying it would be "Unconscionable" to allow work stoppage that will shock the US and world economy

Workers at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports are set to strike in less than 10 hours, with no negotiations currently scheduled to prevent a walkout that could halt container traffic from Maine to Texas and cost the economy billions of dollars per day. The labor contract between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), representing 45,000 port workers, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), the employer group, is set to expire late Monday, and talks have stalled over wage disagreements.

"All signs point to a strike," said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, at a Monday press conference. He noted that marine terminal gates would close at 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT), leaving nearly 100,000 containers stored at the port until the strike ends. Another 35 ships are expected to arrive at the port over the next week and will remain anchored during the strike.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark urged President Joe Biden to use his authority to delay the strike for 80 days, stating that it "would be unconscionable to allow a contract dispute to inflict such a shock to our economy." However, Biden said on Sunday that he did not plan to intervene.

The ILA announced that the strike would begin at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday. On Monday, the union accused USMX of "seeming intent on causing a strike at all ports from Maine to Texas" by offering "an unacceptable wage package that we reject." USMX has not yet commented.

If the strike occurs, it will be the first coast-wide ILA strike since 1977, impacting ports that handle about half of the nation's ocean shipping. No negotiations are currently underway, and none are planned before the Monday deadline, according to a source familiar with the situation.