The likely first step will likely be securing the massive container ship that brought the bridge down on Tuesday. Then, clearing debris from the shipping channel.
Supply chain disruptions have eased since the height of the pandemic, but concern over a potential rail strike, which appears to have been narrowly averted, highlights how that system remains fragile.
Members of one union are rejecting a tentative deal with the largest U.S. freight railroads while three other unions remained at the bargaining table just days ahead of a national strike deadline. A strike, which could begin Friday, would intensify snarls in the nation's supply chain that have contributed to rising prices.
Both bodies have passed legislation on the matter, and the effort is one of their last opportunities before the November elections to show voters they are addressing strained supply chains.
Car buyers today continue to face fewer choices and much higher prices — and cheap vehicles are especially hard to find. It's not just that there are fewer cars; the ones being made are fancier, too.
President Biden has tapped Jerome Powell to serve a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve as the economy faces huge challenges, including surging inflation.
If one of the world's largest container ships had remained solidly lodged in the Suez Canal for much longer, it could have had far-reaching implications.
