LOS ANGELES, Aug 13 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers' early

back-to-school, Halloween and Christmas holiday imports could

lessen cargo delays and financial damage should workers at vital

seaports such as New York and Houston strike in October, a trade

economist said on Tuesday.

The International Longshoremen's Association represents

45,000 dockworkers at three dozen U.S. ports from Maine to Texas

and handle half of the nation's ocean trade. The ILA and

employers represented by United States Maritime Alliance (USMX)

are at odds over issues ranging from automation to wages.

"Retailers are concerned by the possibility of a strike at

ports on the East and Gulf coasts because contract talks have

stalled," said Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and

customs policy at the National Retail Federation.

Those seaports handle roughly half of U.S. container

imports, and any strike or slowdowns would hit ahead of the U.S.

presidential election.

The ILA said it has scheduled a meeting to prepare for a

potential strike if a new agreement is not in place by Sept. 30.

USMX said in a statement it is ready to return to bargaining.

Companies such as Walmart ( WMT ), Target ( TGT ), Home

Depot ( HD ) and Amazon.com ( AMZN ), started importing laptops,

Halloween costumes and toys during the spring. Typically, such

holiday-related imports land at U.S. ports between August and

October.

In July, U.S. container freight imports climbed 14%

year-over-year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

That marked the third-highest monthly level for U.S. container

imports, according to supply-chain-software provider Descartes

Systems Group.

Such planning has "absolutely" mitigated risk from a

potential port strike, S&P Global economist Paul Bingham said.

The import acceleration also aims to avoid shipping

disruptions, from Houthi rebel attacks on commercial vessels

near the Red Sea, drought-related restrictions on the Panama

Canal and elevated hurricane risks, S&P said. The ocean shipping

industry handles 80% of global trade.

The chances of a strike are low, Bingham said.

"In an election year, political pressures will be extreme on

both sides to negotiate a settlement," he said.

Should a short strike occur, the financial impact would be

limited because shippers are accustomed to adjusting for risk,

said Patrick Anderson, CEO of Michigan-based Anderson Economic

Group.

"If you're relying on specific things that are on those

ships, it will affect you. But for much of America, a brief

shutdown won't affect them," Anderson said.