Clients importing American classic cars into New Zealand can breathe relief the US west coast Long Shoreman agreed to extend the current contract. There will be no repeat of extensive delays that plagued the trade in 2015.

US west coast ports received a welcome boost on Friday with early projections indicating that port workers had approved an extension to their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) said reporting from local unions suggested the CBA extension with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) would pass by 67%. Official results will be announced on 4 August and if (as is expected) the ILWU-PMA agreement is ratified, this would see the CBA expire July 2022 instead of July 2019.