Ports along the East Coast of the USA and the Gulf of Mexico are extending importers' delivery times to clear goods before a potential strike by dockworkers on October 1. Ports from New York to Virginia are also developing contingency plans to prevent disruptions. Approximately 45,000 dockworkers allied with the International Longshoremen's Association have threatened to strike if a new labor contract is not signed by the expiration of the current agreement on September 30. The 36 ports along the East Coast of the USA and the Gulf of Mexico could be shut down, including 5 of the top 10 busiest ports in North America, which is expected to further strain the already tense supply chain and turn rerouting goods to other areas into a logistical nightmare.