PPAI has joined with a coalition of more than 152 companies and trade associations representing U.S. importers, exporters, transportation providers and other supply chain stakeholders in signing onto a letter submitted to Congress endorsing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021.
The bipartisan legislation was introduced last month by Congressmen John Garamendi and Dusty Johnson and would update the Shipping Act to recognize the significant changes to the international maritime transportation system of the past two decades. U.S. companies, their workers and consumers rely on a global maritime transportation system to support their businesses and move goods through the supply chain. The coalition’s letter noted that the proposed legislation is essential to bring critically needed system improvements that have been further highlighted during the global pandemic.
The bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House of Representatives would help alleviate longstanding challenges in the global shipping industry. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 would empower the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission to ensure a level playing field for American companies to access foreign markets by expanding oversight of ocean carriers and marine terminal operators.
“The enforcement of federal regulations on detention and demurrage provided for in this legislation should mitigate the erratic cost increases associated with shipping, which would also provide relief to promotional products companies who are facing the same challenges as many other industries,” says PPAI Public Affairs Manager Maurice Norris. “There are several components of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act that have not been updated since 1998, and the landscape has shifted significantly in the past 20-plus years, so we appreciate Congress providing these timely reforms.”
The letter is available here.
