The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) released a joint statement Thursday evening announcing an end – at least temporarily – to the work stoppage that shut down the East and Gulf Coast ports earlier this week. ILA and USMX have agreed to extend the current Master Contract until Jan. 15, 2025, and to reopen all affected ports while negotiations continue on outstanding contract issues.
U.S. Meat Export Federation president and CEO Dan Halstrom said that the end of the strike is terrific news for U.S. livestock producers and exporters who ship more than $100 million of U.S. pork and beef through those ports each week.
“On behalf of USMEF’s member companies and organizations, I want to thank all parties involved in the effort to get cargo moving again off the East and Gulf Coasts. This is a tremendous relief to everyone in the U.S. meat and livestock industries, as about $100 million worth of beef and pork products are exported every week through East and Gulf Coast ports. Exports are a critical revenue stream at all levels of the U.S. red meat supply chain, and our industry needs all U.S. ports operating to meet the needs of our international customers and to maintain the United States’ reputation as a reliable red meat supplier,” said USMEF President Halstrom.
###
USMEF/Drovers
