Jones Lang LaSalle’s Rich Thompson (at right) is moderating a panel discussion featuring the Panama Canal Authority’s Oscar Bazan (center), Ridge Property Trust’s Jim Martel (left) and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Rick Blasgen (second from left).

9:15 a.m. — Blasgen: “The recession diminished our (U.S.) investment in port infrastructure.”

9:20 a.m. — Bazan: With strategic unloading — beginning at Norfolk — large vessels can dock at three or four other U.S. East Coast ports and remain viable in terms of cost.

9:24 a.m. — Martel: “There’s a civil war going on between Charleston and Savannah. They’re competing for capital (for upgrades) and they’ve been putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage.”

9:27 a.m. — Martel: The East Coast Mexican ports, particularly, Lazaro Cardenas, will be an important alternative.

9:30 a.m. — Blasgen: The cost gap between manufacturing in China versus the U.S. is tightening dramatically, so we’re going to see a lot of near-shoring.

9:35 a.m. — Martel: “I don’t think the Panama Canal is going to have an impact on the continued decentralization of distribution networks.”

9:36 a.m. — Thompson: “Supply chain practitioners are focusing more on risk-management. The Canal opens up opportunities to move good from both East and West Coast ports, which lowers risk.”