As author of the Q&A column, Colin Barrett answered detailed and often obscure legal questions on shipping for 48 years, educating generations of shippers.
Tuesday January 26, 2021
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Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy
The global regulatory environment surrounding international trade has never been more difficult — and risky — to manage. From international trade law to customs regulations, trade compliance has risen to the top of the priority list among global importers and exporters. In the age of free trade agreements that link different customs and cultures, the challenges will only mount in the years ahead.
News & Analysis
21 Feb 2019
The higher cost of low-sulfur fuel remains one of the greatest threats to carrier profitability over the next year.
20 Feb 2019
The European Commission is reviewing submissions regarding a five-year extension of the exemption covering liner carrier consortia in advance of a 2020 expiration of the current extension.
19 Feb 2019
With less than a year to go before the IMO's global requirement for the use of low-sulfur fuel, vessel operators still lack clarity into plans by refiners and suppliers to ensure sufficient fuel and infrastructure at major US gateways.
15 Feb 2019
With meat shipments to the Middle East poised to decline, exporters are hoping the lifting of a previous ban in Russia and an outbreak of African Swine Flu in China will offset those losses.
14 Feb 2019
Consolidation in the GTM software space and Maersk's purchase of customs broker Vandergrift are signs shippers want to more closely link logistics and compliance activities.
12 Feb 2019
The deal gives the company more trade compliance firepower to accelerate its evolution to an integrator able to provide deeper supply chain management to shippers.
08 Feb 2019
Maersk and others are cracking down on dangerous goods misdeclarations, but more awareness is needed to address the underlying issues behind improper cargo classification.
01 Feb 2019
The US economy won't run off the road this year, but keep an eye on trade, tariffs, and 2020, economists say at SMC3's Jump Start 2019 event.
31 Jan 2019
The Bangladesh government is introducing pre-arrival processing of import documents at ports in July.
31 Jan 2019
UK forwarders, shippers, and ferry operators fear that any delay caused by customs checks will quickly lead to extensive bottlenecks and disruption.
31 Jan 2019
Among shipowners’ concerns: will there be enough low-sulfur fuel on Jan. 1, 2020? And will the low-sulfur quality be consistent?
30 Jan 2019
The injection of vessels comes as demand growth of Asia-Europe westbound volume slows.
30 Jan 2019
Several US ports, many in the Gulf, are expecting a surge in wind cargo during the next 24 months.
30 Jan 2019
Container and chassis dwell times in Los Angeles-Long Beach edged lower in December.
24 Jan 2019
This lack of clarity on future high- and low-sulfur fuel costs worries BCOs and NVOs as they enter the more critical second phase of negotiations in March.
23 Jan 2019
The new rule is similar to 24-hour advanced manifest rule for US cargo and recent regulatory changes in China.
21 Jan 2019
The 2019 regulatory schedule isn’t clear, but what is clear is that there will be many more hours of debate over truck driver hours of service.
18 Jan 2019
For the new fee, the port promises timelier inspections and fewer detention and demurrage charges.
17 Jan 2019
Knight-Swift projects higher fourth-quarter, first-quarter earnings, but analysts are not doing the same for 2019 truckload pricing forecasts.
16 Jan 2019
Nuisances are popping up that irk port authorities and customs brokers.
16 Jan 2019
However, even planning for no deal is not a straightforward matter.
15 Jan 2019
Indian authorities believe the revised “tariff guidelines 2019” will create a more conducive operating environment for initial concession holders.
15 Jan 2019
Even owner-operators work under ‘contracts of employment,’ the US Supreme Court said, which means claims of misclassification, ‘stolen wages,’ can’t be forced into arbitration.
14 Jan 2019
The alliance of Hongkong International Terminals, Modern Terminals, COSCO-HIT Terminals (Hong Kong), and Asia Container Terminals is aimed at improving terminal utilization and efficiency.
11 Jan 2019
Bunker surcharges have been revised by carriers to mitigate the effect of the IMO sulfur cap of 0.5 percent starting Jan. 1, 2020.
10 Jan 2019
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which took effect Dec. 30, will contain 495 million consumers.
10 Jan 2019
With little over two months to go, there is still no sign of a deal between the United Kingdom and European Union.
09 Jan 2019
The United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the European Union on March 29 but is struggling to reach a deal on trade that would limit disruption.
08 Jan 2019
"With the holiday season behind us, the immediate pressure to stock up on merchandise has passed, but retailers remain concerned about tariffs and their impact on the nation’s economy,” said Jonathan Gold, the NRF’s vice president for supply chain and customs policy.
07 Jan 2019
PSA said two factors are driving the railed cargo and transshipment handling improvement.
07 Jan 2019
The Shenzhen port of Shekou has opened a consolidation center that will ease customs restrictions on China's growing LCL cargo imports.
04 Jan 2019
Even with a US recovery in its 10th year, the transportation and warehouse sectors continue to register strong monthly job growth.
04 Jan 2019
When imports increased strongly last summer, due in part to front-loading of shipments to get ahead of the Trump administration’s tariffs on China, spot rates soared by more than $1,000 to each coast.
04 Jan 2019
Delays may occur if paperwork is flagged by a federal agency in which staffers are furloughed.
03 Jan 2019
Peter Tirschwell provides insight into IMO 2020 impact, Maersk-Damco service changes, and expanding potential within data standardization.
Commentary
Devil in the details for COVID-19 duty deferral
That Was the Month That Was!
Embrace alternatives to diesel to tackle emissions
As the trade world turns ...
Will the US-China tariff tit-for-tat ever end?