A general strike in Belgium is costing the port of Antwerp as much as EUR 1m ($1.3 million) every hour.

Most terminals at the port are closed, vessel traffic is disrupted and dock workers downed tools at 6 am this morning, Annik Dirkx, a spokeswoman for the port told Bloomberg.

Belgium’s three main trade unions have carried out the country’s first general strike in more than three years in protest against austerity measures.

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