Retail Leaders Statement on Red Sea Challenges

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation holds a hearing on the emerging shipping challenges in the Red Sea.

“We appreciate the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation attention to the disruptions of shipping lanes in the Red Sea as retail leaders adapt in real-time to minimize the impact of this complex and evolving crisis on consumers. Although retail supply chains are incredibly flexible by design, escalated and prolonged disruptions will lead to more severe challenges for U.S. businesses, including inventory delays and higher costs," said RILA Director for Supply Chain Policy Sarah Gilmore.
 
“There are no easy answers or overnight solutions to the larger geopolitical factors at play in this situation. We urge policymakers and the Biden administration to continue working with industry experts to understand the short and long-term effects of the Red Sea conflict on domestic supply chains and work together with retailers and other stakeholders to minimize the impact on the economy.”
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RILA is a trade association of the world’s largest, most innovative, and recognizable retail companies and brands.  RILA members include more than two hundred retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, who together employ over 42 million Americans and account for $2.7 trillion in annual sales and hundreds of thousands of stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad. 
 
Tags
  • Public Policy
  • Supply Chain
  • Transportation and Infrastructure

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