On January 8th, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a preliminary agreement on all terms of the new six-year contract. Both sides agreed to continue operating under the existing contract until the union meets with its full wage standards committee and votes to approve the contract, and until USMX members approve the final contract terms.

As a result of the preliminary agreement, a coast-wide strike at all terminals along the US East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico was avoided. Therefore, the additional costs that might have been incurred due to work disruptions will no longer be charged. This not only saves shippers potential additional operating costs but also avoids logistics delays and supply chain disruptions that could have resulted from the suspension of port operations.