Business Interests Endorse Ocean Shipping Reform Act
More than 150 trade groups and companies sent a letter to the co-sponsors of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, endorsing the legislation. The letter says, "We certainly welcomed the Interpretive Rule on Detention and Demurrage as published by the Federal Maritime Commission, but we need more than just 'guidance' that is not being followed by ocean carriers nor marine terminals, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in unfair penalties against US shippers and their transportation partners.”
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David French, senior vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation, said in a press release announcing the letter, "The supply chain ecosystem is instrumental to American retailers’ ability to deliver products across the country to customers each day. Now is the time for the Shipping Act to be modernized to address a 21st century supply chain. We appreciate the efforts of Congressmen Garamendi and Johnson to address these complex challenges so many businesses currently face and encourage Congress to move fastidiously on this crucial legislation.” Reps. John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., introduced the legislation Aug. 10.