Trade groups and industry leaders were at ease after the International Longshoremen’s Association the United States Maritime Alliance reached a tentative agreement on a six-year contract for East and Gulf Coast port workers on Wednesday.

Both parties said the deal "establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing" the ports.

President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement: “This tentative contract agreement is great news for red meat exporters and for all of U.S. agriculture. The assurance that there will be no work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports eliminates a cloud of uncertainty and bolsters the U.