The walkout threatened to plunge the holiday shopping season into turmoil and become an issue in next month's presidential election.

“Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume,” said a joint statement by the ILA and the employers’ group - United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).

Under the tentative agreement, wages would go up by 62% over the next six years, BBC News understands.

But negotiations will continue over a number of outstanding issues, including automation.