July 18, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 02, 1428

LOS ANGELES, July 17: A strike does not appear imminent at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as negotiations between clerical workers and shippers near settlement on a new contract, according to both sides.

The two sides reported progress late on Monday night after they kept talking beyond a midnight on Sunday night deadline. They hope to avert a strike that could cripple shipments at the two ports that handle $275 billion of cargo a year -- about 40 percent of US waterborne trade.—Reuters