News
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has been advised that the 15 ocean carrier members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) have individually committed to forego imposition of any port congestion surcharges until 2015.
The FMC said it has received numerous inquiries regarding congestion surcharges for ''labor unrest'' as announced in various ocean carriers' tariff rules required to be published under the Shipping Act and the commission's regulations.
On November 17, the regulatory watchdog announced that it was collecting information regarding congestion surcharge rules published in carrier tariffs and undertaking a review. During the week of November 24, following the FMC's inquiries, many carriers announced temporary suspension of the surcharge.
Shippers and other affected parties are invited to submit any updates as to congestion surcharges or recent shipper advisories received from carriers to the Bureau of Trade Analysis at: tradeanalysis@fmc.gov.
