Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Discover the news and analysis of supply chain strategies, sourcing and trends covered by the Journal of Commerce. Comprehensive coverage includes customs, trade news, transport news and the latest information about trade regulations. 

The latest Transport, Trade, and Regulation News News & Analysis

Carrier CEOs issue COP28-linked statement urging action on energy transition

Peter Tirschwell |
The rare joint statement reiterates earlier comments by container lines that a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism is needed to make green fuel competitive with traditional bunkers during the phase when both fuels will be in use.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

USDA invests $200 million to boost agricultural sector’s export efforts

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The fresh funding is part of recent federal efforts to increase economic opportunities for farmers and reduce food costs for US residents.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

FMC judge rules in favor of HMM in rolled cargo complaint

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Despite initially failing to meet capacity commitments, the carrier extended the contract for three months at the original rate, saving the shipper $180,000.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

End of EU block exemption a ‘missed opportunity’ for regulators: ITF’s Merk

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
European regulators have never had enough information to effectively monitor the container shipping industry since the consortia block exemption rule was introduced in 2009, according to Olaf Merk.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

UN climate conference comes amid shipping’s choppy path to decarbonization

Peter Tirschwell |
Despite some pockets of progress, exactly how container shipping achieves decarbonization will likely remain an unanswered question until new zero-emission fuel standards are adopted, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

 Congress steps into debate over jurisdiction of rail fees for ocean containers

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Draft legislation would also seek to codify that rail demurrage fees be billed to the ocean carrier, which would then pass along the charge to the responsible shipper or BCO. .
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

UK watchdog calls for end to ocean carrier antitrust immunity

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Just a month after the European Commission announced that the block exemption regulation for carriers would not be renewed next April, the UK competition authority has also called for it to lapse upon expiry.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

House bill seeks to ensure funding for CBP capital costs linked to port inspections

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The bill is a response to growing CBP demands that ports pay for new inspection-related equipment, or risk having the agency reduce the amount of time its officers spend performing inspections.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsNorth American ports

Deadline looming for IMO’s ‘single window’ data-sharing platform

Peter Shaw-Smith, Middle East contributor |
The International Maritime Organization voted in May 2022 to implement the so-called Maritime Single Window from the start of 2024 in a bid to accelerate digitalization in shipping.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Carbon tax needed to spur real action on maritime emissions

Peter Tirschwell |
Despite public commitments by some 4,000 companies globally to reduce Scope 3 emissions, ocean shippers have thus far been unwilling to pay higher-than-market freight rates to achieve those goals.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

CBP increases scrutiny of skyrocketing low-value international shipments

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
An explosion in the use of the so-called de minimis provision, which enables US consignees to bring in a package under $800 in value each day, has US customs regulators worried about the intrusion of illicit goods, such as fentanyl.
Supply chainTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

ILA looking for local ports to bring in more union foremen

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Alongside broader talks on wages for its members, the International Longshoremen’s Association said individual ports need to use more union supervisors and foremen, particularly throughout the South.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Delaware’s planned Edgemoor terminal gets grant from US port funding program

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Along with the grant for the Port of Wilmington’s proposed container terminal, Tacoma and Long Beach received grants for improving truck and rail access, respectively.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Southeast governors say ILA could ‘weaponize’ Leatherman court decision

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Six amicus briefs have been filed to the US Supreme Court supporting the South Carolina Ports Authority’s position that the ILA is illegally forcing carriers to boycott Charleston’s Hugh Leatherman Terminal as a means to acquire jobs that belong to state employees.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLongshore laborTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Forwarders warn of rising transshipment, cargo delays after ETS rollout

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Carriers are already beginning to adjust schedules ahead of Europe’s new shipping carbon tax, something forwarders say could reduce direct port connections and boost transshipment activity.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Georgia tells Supreme Court ILA ruling could jeopardize plans for third ocean terminal

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The Georgia Ports Authority plans to open a third ocean terminal in Savannah in 2030 and says updating its current hybrid labor model to an all-union workforce could cost the port $600 million in its first operating year.
North American portsLongshore laborTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Sharing cost burden remains powerful obstacle to shipping decarbonization

Peter Tirschwell |
As activity heats up around decarbonization, there remains the stubborn fact that an unofficial law of container shipping, which dictates that shippers will always seek the lowest price or at the very least cost parity with peers, is exerting powerful resistance to the forces of climate progress.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Carrier wants SSA Marine to refund $9 million in Long Beach congestion fees

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The FMC complaint is atypical in that it’s an ocean carrier challenging fees rather than a cargo owner, forwarder or trucker pushing back against detention and demurrage charges.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

US Court of Appeals probes FMC fact-finding in Evergreen detention case

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The case of TCW Trucking versus Evergreen could set a precedent for whether the US Federal Maritime Commission can penalize ocean carriers for charging detention and demurrage fees during weekends and holidays when a port is closed.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

Weak demand signals threatening shipping’s emissions targets

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The window is closing fast on shipping’s goal of having scalable zero-emission fuels account for 5% of international shipping demand by 2030, a conference in Athens was told.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Global shippers take lead in drive for green ocean transport

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Encouraging cargo owners to pay more for green ocean services remains a challenge, but carriers are reporting growing momentum from shippers aiming to cut Scope 3 emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Coming end to European block exemption evokes mixed reaction from analysts

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The European Commission’s announcement that the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation was “no longer fit for purpose” and will not be renewed when it expires next April blindsided most in the container shipping industry who were expecting a revision of the rule rather than its scrapping.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Europe to end ocean carrier exemption from EU competition law

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Following a review process launched in August last year, the European Commission reached an emphatic conclusion that the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) “no longer promotes competition in the shipping sector.”
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Doubts growing over shipping’s readiness for Europe’s ETS carbon tax

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
To comply with the European emissions trading system, ocean carriers will essentially need to become experts in carbon credit trading, on top of monitoring, verifying and reporting CO2 emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

MSC avoids fine as FMC finds no OSRA-22 violation in charge complaint

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Federal Maritime Commission said its enforcement agency does not have a case against the ocean carrier over a congestion surcharge complaint from a shipper.
Container Shipping NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Coming implementation of European ETS setting up for a predictable mess: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
If shippers found the post-IMO 2020 bunker fuel formulas confusing and misaligned across ocean carriers, just wait until they see the surcharges linked to Europe’s new emissions trading system, says analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsInternational portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC dismisses ILA’s claims of price fixing at Southeast ports

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
While three companies jointly control some operations at marine terminals at Savannah and Charleston, they are not considered marine terminal operators, an FMC judge has ruled.  
North American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC mediation office ramps up help for US shippers seeking dispute relief

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Use of the little-known arm of the FMC comes as shippers are increasingly turning to US maritime regulators to perform a consumer protection function in the aftermath of pandemic-linked disruptions and broad shipping reform that became law 15 months ago.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

SC Ports turns to US Supreme Court in bid for relief over Leatherman dispute

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
While the South Carolina Ports Authority cited the “urgency and importance” of the Leatherman terminal issue to the state and regional economies, getting on the Court’s docket is a daunting task.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New Shanghai contract fails to budge skeptical carriers on container futures

Peter Tirschwell |
The concept of widespread use of a hedging tool continues to face an uphill battle within the container sector years after it was introduced, especially among carriers whose buy-in is considered essential to confer legitimacy on the fledging market.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Pandemic, shipping reform boost caseload for harried FMC

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Shippers more than tripled their formal complaints in fiscal year 2022, emboldened by the maritime regulator’s sharpened focus on how ocean carriers interact with their customers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Green fuel costs could make nuclear ships economically viable: experts

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Small onboard nuclear reactors could ultimately be the lowest-cost method of decarbonization as shipping competes with other thirsty industries for sustainable net-zero fuels, according to energy and investment analysts.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Forwarders now liable for export control violations as US tightens shipping security

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
Washington is urging NVOs and forwarders to “know their customer,” a steep challenge for co-loaders who bundle multiple shipments for multiple customers into a single container, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesForwarding

Global shippers launch 600,000-TEU tender to fast-track decarbonization

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The bids would require carriers to quote a negotiated “green premium” that cargo owners would pay to transport the containers on ships powered by zero-carbon fuels.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Bed Bath & Beyond files FMC complaint against Yang Ming in capacity dispute

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The new allegation against Yang Ming comes less than a week after the carrier settled a dispute with another US importer, also over allegations it failed to honor vessel capacity commitments.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

US truckload sector picks up pace to meet rising threat of cargo theft

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Freight brokers, load boards, technology providers and law enforcement are attempting to contain the growing threat of truckload cargo theft and the fraudulent schemes that underpin it.
Trucking NewsTruck brokersTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Hapag-Lloyd miss on HMM highlights shipping’s lack of level playing field: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with countries protecting their shipping interests, but there are always ripple effects on the commercial side that benefit some stakeholders and disadvantage others, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

LA-LB port interests spar with agency over emissions rule under development

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
The regional air quality board is pushing back against what it says is “grossly inaccurate rhetoric” from transport interests who say a cap on Southern California cargo volumes may be on the horizon.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsMarine terminalsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC publishes list of NVOs at risk of losing licenses over tariff non-compliance

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The move is part of an ongoing effort by the FMC to bolster the oversight of regulated entities through “informed compliance,” an agency spokesperson said.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

Lawmakers push FMC to remove MTOs from demurrage billing requirements

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Two congress members, backed by terminal operators, are insisting maritime regulators follow the congressional intent that underpins OSRA-22 or risk “severe” disruptions to the US supply chain.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminals