By Lisa Baertlein, Daniel Wiessner LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -A tentative labor deal forestalled potentially damaging trade disruptions at three-dozen U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports, with both sides in the talks crediting President-elect Donald Trump for clearing the way for them to hammer out a deal on automation.

The head of the United States Maritime Alliance cited President-elect Donald Trump’s leadership for helping reach agreement on a new longshore contract. The post Port employers follow ILA, praise Trump for new union contract,

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance announced they tentatively came to terms on Wednesday with a new six-year contract. And, according to ILA President Harold Daggett,

After a contentious negotiation, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Wednesday announced a tentative deal on a new six-year master contract. '

A massive strike across the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports has been averted after a dockworker union and an alliance of companies, terminal operators, and port associations negotiated a new labor contract.