Just days before a critical hearing before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation about the crisis facing American importers, the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) has submitted three legislative proposals to enforce the carriage of trade and excessive penalties U.S. importers are being charged by foreign carriers, American Shipper has learned.
The proposals were sent to the Federal Maritime Commission, as well as representatives on the Senate and House committees that have jurisdiction over ocean shipping.
American Shipper has reviewed the proposed legislation, which includes the following amendment proposals:
— Amendment to gain enforcement of FMC’s Detention and Demurrage Rule.
— Amendment to Prioritize FMC’s Service to US Exporters, Importers and Others.
— Amendment to Maintain Carriage of US Exports.
“It is painfully apparent to all who export from the U.S., the current ocean shipping regulatory mechanism, and the ability of the Federal Maritime Commission to assure compliance with its rules, is not working,” said Peter Friedmann, executive director of the AgTC.
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Stephen+Webster
It is at a much higher cost than in the past. The problem is that both container rates and certain other transport rates last year were too low
Many companies went out businesses
Some of this is payback for the way the container companies were treated last year.
Gerry Lopez
Are the carriers not providing any equipment to the AG exporters ? Or are they simply not offering the very generous free time terms demanded by the AG folks?