Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Federal Maritime Commission plans to request comments on the possibility of new demurrage and detention billing requirements, which would seek to address unfair charges and billing practices faced by shippers. In a pre-rule set to be published "soon," the FMC will request feedback on whether it should require carriers and terminal operators to include “certain minimum information” with their billings and whether they should be issued to shippers within a certain time frame.
Senators introduced a companion version of the House’s Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which would look to hold ocean carriers accountable for declining exports and other unfair shipping practices. The bipartisan bill -- introduced Feb. 3 by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. -- would also require carriers to submit quarterly reports on total import and export tonnage per vessel and grant the Federal Maritime Commission new investigative and enforcement authorities. The House passed its version in December (see 2112080075).
The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking additional comments on a petition filed by the Lake Carriers’ Association, which said the Canadian government is imposing “unfavorable” conditions on U.S.-Canada shipping and trade. The FMC initially requested comments after receiving the association’s petition in 2020 but announced a new comment period this week because of recent “developments which impact the Commission’s consideration” of the petition. Comments are due March 7.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top 20 stories published in 2021 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference numbers.
The Federal Maritime Commission issued three new policy statements this week to provide the shipping industry more guidance on its complaint process and clarify how it will address cases of carrier retaliation. The shipper-friendly policy statements, originally recommended by Commissioner Rebecca Dye in July (see 2107290021), describe how the FMC defines who can allege complaints, how the commission approaches reparations for attorney fees and a broad outline of who can bring forward a retaliation complaint.
John Butler, CEO of the World Shipping Council, said ocean carriers are getting mixed messages from the White House, which is encouraging carriers and ports to rev up their leverage on buyers and freight forwarders so that they pick up their cargo promptly, and from Congress. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on an Ocean Shipping Reform Act that would give the Federal Maritime Commission more authority to punish players for unreasonable demurrage charges -- the same fees used as leverage.
The Federal Maritime Commission will hold the first meeting of its maritime data initiative (see 2111160006) Dec. 7, which will examine how data constraints are impeding ocean cargo flow and feature the White House's top port adviser. Officials at the meeting -- including John Porcari, port envoy for the White House’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force -- will also discuss “the need for data standards and transparency to improve supply chain efficiency,” the FMC said. The virtual meeting will begin at 1 p.m. EST.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for Nov. 22-26 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.