WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports.

Imports at the Port of Los Angeles last month totaled 462,740 20-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs. The port also handled 122,716 export containers and 319,570 empty containers in October.

The U.S. dockworkers union that halted cargo at every major port on the country’s eastern and southern coasts last month has called off talks with their employers over automation.

Dockworkers are set to meet with their employers in New Jersey, resuming negotiations on the key issue of automation that sparked a three-day strike at East and Gulf Coast ports last month.

Two terminals operated by Termont Montreal that account for about 40% of the port’s container handling capacity have been closed since Oct. 31 after unionized dockworkers walked off the job

Dock employers in British Columbia shut out workers Nov. 4 after a union’s strike notice, bringing trade to a halt across Canada’s busiest and third-busiest ports.

Dock foremen and women in British Columbia issued a strike notice for Nov. 4, setting up a complete shutdown of Canada’s busiest port, a business group said.

The union representing dockworkers in East Coast ports is set to return to the bargaining table next month, part of an arrangement reached after a three-day strike was suspended Oct. 3.

Shipping stocks slumped worldwide after a strike by U.S. dockworkers was suspended after only three days, spurring predictions of a decline in the price of transporting goods by sea.

Ports are reopening Oct. 4, and the ILA and USMX will restart negotiations on a long-term agreement, which will include a pay increase of about 62%.