FMC: Ocean Shipping Challenges Abound
Since early Spring 2020, American consumers have received a practical education in supply chain operations. One lesson is that it takes more than simply going online and clicking a “Buy Now” button for goods to show-up on our front porches. While the networks and systems that deliver commodities from around the globe might have been stretched as a result of COVID-19 related impacts, the men and women who move the freight have worked selflessly and tirelessly to meet consumer and manufacturing demand.Early on in the response to COVID-19…
Coalition Asks Senate for Vessel Discharge Legislation
On June 20, a diverse coalition of 58 national and regional organizations representing a wide array of leading business, maritime and labor organizations signed on to a letter to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) urging that the committee mark up and approve S. 2094, a bill that would establish a uniform, science-based national framework for the regulation of ballast water and other vessel discharges. S. 2094, introduced on March 6 by Sens.
Industry Urges Senate for Vessel Discharge Legislation
On March 13, a diverse coalition of 59 national and regional organizations representing a wide array of business, maritime and labor interests signed on to a letter to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee leadership, Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD), thanking them for cosponsoring S. 2094, a bill that would establish a uniform national framework for the regulation of ballast water and other vessel discharges, and urging swift Committee consideration and approval. S. 2094, introduced on March 6 by Sens. Mark Begich (D-AK) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), has 23 bipartisan co-sponsors, nearly one-quarter of the Senate.
FMC Commissioner Comments on Key Shipping Issues at LA Forum
U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner Doyle spoke to the Global Shippers Forum in Los Angeles and discussed Ro/Ro price fixing matters; the newly approved cooperation agreement between the ports of Seattle and Tacoma; the first PVO company to take advantage of the alternative bonding mechanisms; China VAT; Commission's 6 (g) Analysis, and the Suez/Panama Canal routes. This past week the Commission unanimously voted to effectively allow the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma to move forward on a cooperative agreement to exchange information and work together to find synergies.
Commissioner Doyle: China Clarifies VAT
Last week Commissioner William P. Doyle of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) briefed the full Commission with a report on his work seeking clarity and certainty on the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) as it relates to maritime commerce. Doyle informed the Commission that the Chinese government was expected to clarify its position on the VAT that has confused the shipper and carrier communities. On December 13, 2013, the PRC released Circular 106, which supersedes Circular 37 effective January 1, 2014.
Public Participation Sought in EU Study
In his address to the Intermodal Association of North America, the National Industrial Transportation League, and the Transportation Intermediaries Association during the Super Session, Economic Turmoil in a Sea of Financial Changes, at the 2009 Intermodal Expo and TransComp Exhibition, Chairman Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. announced further details of the Commission's plans to undertake a comprehensive study of the impact on the U.S. trades as a result of the elimination of shipping conferences by the European Union (EU). Additionally, the Chairman recognized in his remarks that ports, carriers and other maritime interests are impacted by the on-going global economic downturn, and reiterated the Obama Administration's willingness to assist regulated parties in obtaining financial relief.
Harbor Services Fund Under Attack
The Administration's proposed tax to pay for harbor dredging is not a viable or equitable solution to funding navigation channel maintenance at the nation's ports, says the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). AAPA and others testified at a House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Hearing on the Administration's Harbor Services Fund (HSF) proposal, H. R. 1947. The plan creates a new tax on vessels to replace the Harbor Maintenance Tax, the export-tax portion of which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1998. The administration proposal, submitted to Congress, but not yet introduced as a bill, would…
Creel Addresses Transportation Management Conference
The following are remards by the Honorable Harold J. Creel, Jr., Federal Maritime Commisioner, as prepared for presentation at the International Transportation Management Conference in Houston. It is an honor and a pleasure to be addressing this distinguished conference. As Barry indicated in his opening remarks, this panel will be addressing the following hot topics in ocean transportation: globalization; deregulation; terrorism; new security requirements; antitrust immunity; and NVOCC confidential contracts. I would like to focus my remarks, from a government regulator's perspective, on the latter two topics. I will, of course, attempt to answer any questions you may have on anything that comes up.
