Port Strike Averted

January 9, 2025

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have announced a tentative six-year agreement, successfully reaching a resolution ahead of the Jan. 15 deadline. The current contract will remain in effect until the new agreement is ratified. The details of the contract will not be released until both parties ratify the agreement. Their joint statement can be found here.

Negotiations resumed on Jan. 7 after talks had stalled in November. Throughout this period, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) actively advocated for a resolution to avoid a strike that could have caused significant disruptions to the fresh produce supply chain.

As part of these efforts, IFPA engaged in direct outreach to the White House and Congress, urging immediate action to prevent a strike and mitigate potential supply chain impacts. Additionally, as a member of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group, IFPA co-signed letters addressed to President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump. These letters underscored the importance of East and Gulf Coast ports, which handle 40 percent of U.S. containerized agricultural exports, to the agricultural sector and broader economy.

IFPA notified members on Dec. 13 of the possibility of a strike at East and Gulf Coast ports in mid-January. IFPA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to members if necessary.

Contact Ed Treacy, IFPA Vice President of Supply Chain or John Hollay, IFPA Director of U.S Government Relations with questions.

Port Strike Averted

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