U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has praised progress made in the supply-chain bottlenecks.
Since 2020, freight ships had been backed up at several U.S. ports. AP News reported that as the supply chain unclogs, there may be relief for consumers as inflation falls and a key factor behind the change is less demand for goods.
“A year ago, more than 100 ships waited their turn amid supply chain bottlenecks triggered by the pandemic,” Buttigieg said on Twitter. “Not anymore, thanks to hard work by transportation workers, key businesses and this administration.”
The shipping backup based at Southern California ports eased partly because companies “sent cargo to Gulf Coast and Atlantic ports to avoid delays,” AP News said. Port Houston’s cargo volume is up 18% from last year, for example.
Other problems remain, like chronic computer chip shortages and China's COVID-19 restrictions’ effect on manufacturing, AP News reported.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invested $17 billion in port infrastructure and waterways, a Nov. 6, 2021 fact sheet said. The money was invested to address “repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions near ports and airports and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies.”
“Modern, resilient and sustainable port, airport and freight infrastructure will strengthen our supply chains and support U.S. competitiveness by removing bottlenecks and expediting commerce and reduce the environmental impact on neighboring communities,” the fact sheet said.
