Regulation & Policy

JOC

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

Colin Barrett, JOC Q&A writer for 48 years, dies at 81

14 Jan 2021
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.
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India softens stance on major port reform amid strike threat
17 Aug 2016
The Indian government seems to be treading cautiously on its long-contemplated plan to restructure major public port trusts.
US takes long view in limiting truck GHG emissions
16 Aug 2016
The second round of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions constraints for heavy trucks gives manufacturers through 2027 to meet most stringent limits.
Equipment lessors ask FMC to reject new LA-LB chassis fee
16 Aug 2016
Show-cause petition by equipment lessors charges LA-LB proposed chassis services fee violates Shipping Act.
Container fumigation, pictured, is now a prerequisite for containers entering China from some parts of the world.
China details anti-Zika prep for US exporters, but questions remain
16 Aug 2016
Chinese authorities have provided some guidance on how U.S. exporters need to show that they have made their shipments mosquito-free.
Officials hope that automated customs clearance will help relieve congestion at the port of Yangon fueled by infrastructure limitations and growing container volumes.
Myanmar customs automation to aid congested Yangon port
16 Aug 2016
Customs changes could help relieve crippling congestion at the port of Yangon in Myanmar.
US trucker lawsuit could avert electronic logging device rule
12 Aug 2016
The controversial mandate requiring electronic logging devices in U.S. trucks by the end of next year will reappear before a federal court next month, jeopardizing the fate of the rule itself, and the so-called “capacity crunch” it was expected to generate.
The Port of Mumbai, pictured, is hoping to replicate the results of direct import delivery at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, which drastically cut container dwell times.
Mumbai begins direct port delivery to cut container dwell times
12 Aug 2016
Port of Mumbai this week issued a trade advisory calling on shippers to use direct port delivery services for the clearance of their import cargo.
Customs change endangering St. Petersburg port suspended
11 Aug 2016
A customs change that would have forced shippers to divert cargo away from the port of St. Petersburg has been suspended.
Container fumigation, pictured, could add extra costs for shippers and the exact requirements for getting a Mosquito Eradication Certificate are uncertain.
Chinese anti-Zika prevention efforts worry US exporters
10 Aug 2016
Efforts by Chinese authorities seeking to prevent the spread of Zika have sparked concerns among U.S. exporters.
The additional Hong Kong warehousing capacity from Seko is aimed at shippers jostling for a piece of the largest e-commerce market on the planet.
Seko adds Hong Kong warehouse capacity to meet e-commerce demand
10 Aug 2016
Surging e-commerce demand and spending in Asia has logistics companies looking to the future.
IHS economist downgrades US containerized import forecast
08 Aug 2016
IHS economist: the volume of containerized U.S. imports will grow at a slower pace than expected in 2016.
The U.S. economy created 255,000 jobs in July, a higher number than expected and although trucking employment has declined since 2015, it is still slightly above its pre-recession peak.
Trucking resumes hiring, reversing five-month decline
05 Aug 2016
Does an uptick in trucking jobs indicate the trucking market is stabilizing?
UK forwarders back shippers’ global anti-surcharge campaign
05 Aug 2016
U.K. freight forwarders have pledged their support for a campaign to end container shipping surcharges by 2020.
Among the many issues that Richard Lidinsky sought action on during his time at the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission were charges for demurrage and free time that some shippers viewed as unfair.
US maritime regulator revamped agency, returned shipper focus
04 Aug 2016
Richard Lidinsky shook up the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission during his charged and often controversial seven-year tenure.
US shippers still grappling with ACE growing pains
03 Aug 2016
Shippers and government agencies are still experiencing growing pains as they adjust to the new system.
Major US port funding bill may miss 2016 sailing
03 Aug 2016
With an abbreviated legislative calendar thanks to the upcoming November election and a full slate of bills to work through, Congress will be in a mad dash to get anything, much less a WRDA bill, passed.
Jacintoport, Seaboard settle overcharge case
02 Aug 2016
Jacintoport International and Seaboard Marine have agreed to settle allegations that they violated the U.S. False Claims Act.
A gathering of those involved in the Public-Private Dialogue on Advancing Trade and Supply Chain Connectivity through the Asia-Pacific Model E-Port Network illustrated both the progress toward and hurdles to a paperless cross-border supply chain.
Data security concerns trip up port connectivity push
02 Aug 2016
Data protection is emerging as a major hurdle in the push towards building a paperless and efficient cross-border supply chain.
Shippers to use lobby-and-embarrass strategy to end surcharges
01 Aug 2016
Reports of unjustified surcharges have been on the rise following the introduction of a new mandatory container weight verification rule that took effect last month, according to the Global Shippers Forum.
The Port of Albany, pictured, will combine the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant with previously committed port and state funding.
Albany port to expand heavy-lift capacity with TIGER grant
01 Aug 2016
The Port of Albany, New York, will use a federal grant to fund a range of improvements.
This year's round of TIGER grants has shippers and the transportation sector feeling neglected.
US freight projects get smallest bite of TIGER grant funding
31 Jul 2016
U.S. freight projects this year received their lowest share ever from the TIGER federal grant program.
Shippers, railroads clash over switching proposal
28 Jul 2016
Shippers and railroads disagree about the merits of a new proposal from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board over so-called “reciprocal” or “competitive” switching.
ODFL trucking revenue drops, but LTL pricing called 'stable'
28 Jul 2016
The slight year-over-year drop in quarterly revenue was the first for ODFL since 2009.
BNSF's options to jumpstart planned LA-LB terminal running out
27 Jul 2016
BNSF has 60 days to decide whether to appeal latest court ruling involving the Southern California International Gateway.
Although international intermodal volume at Canadian National Railroad fell in the second quarter, its domestic intermodal business was up.
CN blames intermodal fall on weak demand
27 Jul 2016
The railway, Canada’s largest, said that traffic figures took a hit from weakened demand, but business was also curbed by challenges at Port Metro Vancouver.
US shippers face tough road to gain national port productivity metrics
25 Jul 2016
The immediate roadblocks, stalemates and impasses the group confronted at the July 15 highlight the deep divisions among the members of the congressional working group and the challenges they’ll face in the months ahead.
As truckload market tanks, e-commerce powers TransForce
25 Jul 2016
TransForce's package division increased sales 6 percent, but its trucking business struggled in the second quarter.
Brexit forecast to slow UK container trade but not cost direct calls from Asia
25 Jul 2016
The Brexit will slow U.K. containerized trade in the short term.
Tampa hopes new cranes will help draw container lines
25 Jul 2016
Port touts its proximity to distribution centers along Florida's I-4 corridor.
Regulator approves takeover of Australia’s largest terminal operator
25 Jul 2016
Australia’s top container terminal operator will have a new owner in short order.
Like competitor Swift Transportation, Werner is reducing its fleet capacity.
Werner sheds some customers as shippers pound rates
22 Jul 2016
The fifth-largest U.S. truckload carrier is cutting some shippers loose as they seek deep rate cuts in a soft market.
Employees of the Brazilian customs agency, pictured, are pressuring interim President Michel Temer to live up to the promises of his predecessor, and in the process are threatening to gridlock essential customs functions during the Olympics.
Brazilian shippers suffer customs slowdown, Santos strike
21 Jul 2016
Brazilian shippers are suffering from a double whammy of industrial action this week.
The Port of Baltimore, pictured, has rail access, but would stand to gain much if that access could accommodate double-stacked trains.
Baltimore port to try again for double-stack intermodal funding
21 Jul 2016
The Port of Baltimore is not giving up on a project to raise the Howard Street tunnel enough to allow the passage of double-stacked freight trains.
APMT hopes that new cranes able to handle some of the largest mega-ships afloat, pictured, will help transform Pecem, Brazil, into a regional container hub.
Pecem aims to use new cranes to become Brazilian transshipment hub
21 Jul 2016
APM Terminals and port owner Cearaportus hope to turn the Brazilian Port of Pecem into a regional east coast South America hub.
Construction workers in India will have plenty to keep them busy as the government pours billions into the ports sector to increase capacity and productivity under the Sagar Mala program.
India forms company to oversee Sagar Mala port development
21 Jul 2016
India on Wednesday approved the formation of Sagarmala Development Company, to coordinate and implement the mammoth Sagar Mala port development program.

Regulation & Policy