The status of a dispute between shipping executives and union leaders for dock workers at 29 U.S. West Coast ports was unclear on Friday, with the Journal of Commerce, which earlier reported a deal may have been reached, saying conflicting reports had emerged on the status of the nine-month-old talks. “There is no deal as it stands right now,” Journal of Commerce Chief Content Officer Peter Tirschwell told Reuters. “Pace of negotiations quickening as source close to the talks says no deal yet despite several others this AM saying a deal was in hand,” the Journal reported in a tweet.