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The Port of Vancouver, a key link for Canadian trade with Asia, appears headed to an almost full shutdown after companies that operate port facilities announced a lockout.

The B.C. Maritime Employers Association, which negotiates for the 55 companies that operate port facilities,gave notice Tuesday to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada, saying that because of a limited longshore strike that began Monday, it would lock out most of the 6,000 longshore workers at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

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The lockout won’t affect cruise ship operations or, under federal law, loading and handling of ships at the port’s grain terminals.

Rob Ashton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada, said the notice came as a shock. “The only thing I can think of is that they want to drag the Canadian government into this, and hope for legislation,” he said.

“The union has been trying to get a freely negotiated collective agreement — which is our right — for the last 18 months. I’m hoping the BCMEA was trying to do the same thing. Up until today, that’s what I thought they were doing.”