China, Taiwan shippers press against surcharges

China, Taiwan shippers press against surcharges    In a cross-strait meeting of shippers associations in China and Taiwan, members said they would continue to press carriers into agreeing to all-in rates, rather than low base rates with unpredictable surcharges tacked on.
   When rates with accessorial charges added on are offered, the origin shippers (i.e. those in Asia) are often hurt, the associations argued in a statement released after the meeting in Shenzhen in late June.
   'Delegates resolutely oppose double collecting of unreasonable (terminal handling fees), container seal fee, document fees (for issue of bill of lading, change of bill of lading and amendment of bill of lading), equipment management fees, security fees, peak season surcharges, currency adjustment surcharge and bunker surcharge etc., in addition to the freight rate,' the statement said. 'The participants unanimously called for liner companies to follow the international liner transport practice of (container yard to container yard) terms, and cancel immediately THCs and all kinds of other unreasonable charges in accordance with the above principle, and implement an 'all-in-freight rate' system; the participants firmly oppose liner shipping companies to pass on unreasonable costs to shippers by force.'
   The associations criticized collection of emergency bunker surcharges — such as what happened on certain Taiwan to South China services last year — as well as container seal fees charges by OOCL, TS Lines and other carriers on shipments to and from Hong Kong and South China.
   Finally, the groups said that zero rates offered by carriers only would hurt origin shippers who were subject to surcharges that carriers assess to make up for lost revenue on base rates.
   'Delegates firmly oppose liner companies to make disorderly competition of zero or even negative freight rates as it will undoubtedly lead liner companies to collect more unreasonable surcharges from the FOB exporters and CIF importers so as to recover their losses,' the statement said. 'Delegates firmly support the regulation of forbidding zero rates in the new 'Methods of Implementation of International Container Freight Rate Filing' issued by (China's) Ministry of Communication and Transport.'
   The meeting included representatives from the China Shippers’ Association, Hong Kong Shippers' Council, Taiwan Shippers' Council and Macau Shippers Association.