The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay congratulates the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) on reaching a tentative agreement that allows the East and Gulf Coast ports to get back to work supplying America.

“Work stoppages are extremely difficult not only for port workers and the businesses which employ them but to U.S. consumers as a whole. We laud the ILA and USMX for their close cooperation and willingness to quickly come together to resolve their differences,” said Maritime Exchange President Lisa Himber. “Though cargo throughput will not immediately return to normal flow after the three-day strike, the short period will ensure that the negative effects are kept to a minimum.”

The Maritime Exchange was pleased to be able to coordinate a series of regional port stakeholder meetings immediately prior to and during the strike. The sessions provided a mechanism for port partners to raise questions, voice concerns, and share information over the last week.