MARAD, EXIM BANK IMPROVE WAIVER PROCESS

MARAD, EXIM BANK IMPROVE WAIVER PROCESS    The U.S. Maritime Administration and the Export-Import Bank have developed a more efficient way to process waivers for ocean transport of government-financed cargoes under Public Resolution 17.
   MarAd will now consider waiver requests prior to EXIM Bank’s approval of the credit if the recipient meets certain conditions.
   To participate in this procedure, the applicant or its designated contractor needs to discuss with MarAd the proposed movement of cargo prior to any shipment proposed for coverage under the EXIM Bank credit.
   MarAd had issued waivers only after the credit had been approved by EXIM Bank. MarAd and EXIM Bank officials believe this new early consideration will “encourage greater use of U.S.-flag vessels, allow better planning by exporters, reduce the number of compensatory waivers, and reduce the paperwork burden on all parties.”
   For more information about the new procedure, contact Lester Levay of MarAd’s Division of Civilian Cargoes at (202) 366-5512. Information about the cargo preference laws is also available online at https://www.marad.dot.gov/offices/cargo_pref.html.