In a major relief for the maritime industry, the strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), which led to the closure of US East Coast ports from 1 October, has been postponed at least till January 2025.

Around $159 billion in automobiles were imported to the United States in 2022, and the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports of the U.S. are vital avenues for the importation of foreign vehicles — specifically, for European automakers like BMW, Volvo, and Volkswagen.