US ports dispute taking toll on economy

Washington - Federally mediated talks to end a grinding labour dispute at US West Coast ports entered their third day Thursday as complaints mounted from businesses feeling pain on both sides of the Pacific.

Massive container ships were backed up around key ports from Long Beach in southern California to Tacoma, Washington as some 20 000 longshoremen continued their work slowdown to pressure port owners to agree a new contract.

The port of Oakland, the key container terminal for the San Francisco Bay area, was completely closed for the seventh day this month as dockworkers held a union meeting.