There is the possibility of a strike once the contract lapses, with unionized workers objecting to the addition of new technologies to U.S. ports that they say could ultimately cause job losses.

A trio of President Joe Biden’s aides are meeting with representatives of ocean carriers and terminal operators Friday with the aim of averting a strike that could shutter every major container port on the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts — while also signaling the White House won’t intervene to force workers back to the docks if they walk out.