PKDC, a Colorado-based furniture distributor, accused ocean carrier CMA CGM of refusing to meet its commitments to the distributor, coercing "extracontractual" payments from PKDC, and charging detention and demurrage for situations outside the distributor's control. The furniture distributor, in a complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission dated May 10, said it paid over $1 million in unreasonable detention and demurrage and that CMA CGM cost it over $12 million by refusing to meet its quantity commitments under the service contract.

Two provisions in a February final rule (see 2402230049) from the Federal Maritime Commission -- which set requirements for the information that will soon need to be reported in demurrage and detention invoices -- will take effect along with the rest of the final rule May 28, the commission said in a notice released this week. The FMC had been awaiting approval from the Office of Management and Budget for an information collection request "associated" with those two provisions, and the commission said it received that approval April 16. Those two provisions are: 46 CFR 541.6 and 541.99.

While the U.S. should look to counter China with export controls, tariffs and outbound investment restrictions, it also needs to better incentivize trading partners to diversify their supply chains away from China, the Atlantic Council said this week.

The Centers for Disease Control is finalizing its new requirements for imports of dogs to address the risk of rabies. Among other changes from its July 2023 proposed rule (see 2307110062), the agency no longer will require that U.S.-vaccinated dogs that have been in countries at high risk for rabies be imported through a port with a CDC quarantine station, though foreign-vaccinated dogs still will be subject to that requirement.

The Department of Energy is amending its energy efficiency standards for miscellaneous refrigeration products beginning in January 2029, it said in a direct final rule published May 7.

The Energy Department is amending its energy efficiency standards for consumer water heaters, it said in a final rule May 6. DOE “has determined that the new and amended energy conservation standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified,” it said. Compliance with the amended standards is required for consumer water heaters manufactured or imported on or after May 6, 2029, the agency said. The final rule doesn't change the existing standard for instantaneous gas water heaters, as "DOE is still considering amended energy conservation standards" for the product. The final rule goes into effect July 5.

CMA CGM charged unfair detention and unfair chassis, storage, stop-off and redelivery fees, Access One Transport said in a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission March 1. The California-based motor carrier said CMA CGM violated the Shipping Act by charging unfair fees when the containers couldn't be returned due to lack of appointments, dual transactions and specific actions by CMA CGM and its terminals.

A "snapshot" report just released by the Government Accountability Office reminded Congress that the GAO has studied -- and made recommendations -- on many aspects of how to manage economic competition with China, including providing more resources to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, improving information sharing with companies to keep more counterfeits out of U.S. commerce, and improving the tariff exclusions process for steel and aluminum imports.

The Department of Energy is amending its energy efficiency standards for dishwashers beginning in April 2027, it said in a direct final rule released April 23.

The Energy Department is amending its energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers, it said in a final rule April 22. DOE “has determined that the amended energy conservation standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified,” it said. Compliance with the amended standards is required for distribution transformers manufactured or imported on or after April 23, 2029, the agency said. The final rule goes into effect July 8.