Businesses are preparing for a strike by dockworkers on the East and Gulf Coasts, which could begin Oct. 1 if negotiations don’t yield a new contract.

U.S. companies that rely on East and Gulf Coast seaports have been importing early, shifting goods to the West Coast, and even putting cargo on pricey flights to hedge against a threatened Oct. 1 strike that could jam supply chains and reignite inflation ahead of the U.

Even a short strike at East and Gulf Coast ports could disrupt U.S. supply chains until 2025, according to one expert.

The clock is ticking down to a potential port strike on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, where consumers could face product shortages and price spikes just ahead of the holiday season.

U.S. companies that rely on East and Gulf Coast seaports have been importing early, shifting goods to the West Coast, and even putting cargo on pricey flights to hedge against a threatened Oct. 1 strike that could jam supply chains and reignite inflation ahead of the U.

Failure to reach a new longshoremen contract deal risks many East and Gulf Coast ports closing before the year-end consumer spending push -- threatening billions in losses to businesses.

Port Import/Export Reporting Service (PIERS data) provided by USMEF showed that through July, 45% of waterborne US pork exports were shipped through the East and Gulf Coast ports, along with the share of waterborne beef exports being 30%.

It's increasingly likely that thousands of dockworkers at major ports along the East and Gulf coasts will strike on Oct. 1, those close to the parties tell Axios. Why it matters: Americans would feel this one.