LWU, PMA reach tentative agreement on health benefits
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association released a joint statement on Tuesday saying they have come together on at least one topic, and a highly contentious one at that: health benefits.

Trade Deficit Falls as Exports Hit Record, Imports Decline
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on August 6th that trade statistics for the month of June show that the U.S. trade deficit fell for the 2nd straight month, down 7.2% to $41.5 billion. Exports increased by 0.2% to $195.9 billion, setting a new all-time record, while imports dropped 1.2% to $237.4 billion.

Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) and additional funding announced
The GSM-102 program provides credit guarantees to encourage financing of commercial exports of U.S. agricultural products, while providing competitive credit terms to buyers.http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/export-credit-guarantee-program-gsm-102
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has released additional fiscal-year 2014 funds for its Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102). http://www.fas.usda.gov/newsroom/usda-allocates-additional-gsm-102-funds-fy-2014

The U.S Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing civil penalties ranging from $63,000 to $91,000 against three companies for violating Hazardous Materials Regulations, and resolved a case against another company for $54,000.
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=16794

It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the

prosperous voyage. George William Curtis