"I am writing on behalf of the U.S. retail industry, to request your immediate action to reopen the ports," NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin said in a letter to the President. "We also urge the immediate involvement and assistance of a federal mediator in these talks."

"We cannot overstate the gravity of the current situation," Mullin said. "The West Coast ports handle a substantial portion of the nation's trade, which accounts for one quarter of U.S. gross domestic product. Their closure will deliver a serious blow to the U.S. economy, estimated at $1 billion a day."

"With the retail industry and consumer spending largely propping up a weak economy, the inability to get goods off the ships will quickly result in idling of distribution centers, closure of stores and layoffs of workers," Mullin said. "U.S. consumers will also quickly see an impact as goods become unavailable and prices rise."

Mullin said that a wide variety of consumer products are imported from Asia via the West Coast ports and would be impacted by the shutdown, particularly toys, consumer electronics, shoes, clothing and housewares. The timing is particularly critical because products that will be sold during the holiday shopping season are currently in transit or arriving at the ports.

NRF has worked since early summer to prevent a port shutdown, meeting with White House and Cabinet officials to encourage Bush to use his influence to prevent a shutdown, and asking the heads of both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents terminal operators, to remain at the bargaining table.

A University of California at Berkley study has estimated the cost of the port shutdown to the U.S. economy at $1 billion a day.

NRF is the world's largest retail trade association with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet and independent stores. NRF members represent an industry that encompasses more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, employs more than 20 million people -- about one in five American workers -- and registered 2001 sales of $3.5 trillion. NRF's international members operate stores in more than 50 nations. In its role as the retail industry's umbrella group, NRF also represents 32 national and 50 state associations in the United States as well as 36 international associations representing retailers abroad. For more information, visit the web site at http://www.nrf.com.