News
Dairy groups support shipping reform bill
A shipping reform bill introduced Tuesday in Washington has support from dairy groups. Both the U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation applaud the Ocean Shipping Reform Act advanced by California Democrat John Garamendi and South Dakota Republican Dusty Johnson.
Since late last year, U.S. exporters have experienced problems getting empty containers and ship space to send products overseas, with shipping companies often refusing to accept American products so they can send the empty containers back to China faster.
USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden says dairy producers and manufacturers have faced unreasonable costs and unfair practices from ocean carriers that negatively affect U.S. exports, increasing costs and putting trading relationships at risk. She says this legislation will hopefully curtail those abuses and encourage better export-oriented behavior.
The Garamendi-Johnson bill would provide new authority to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to address unjust and unreasonable practices and create new penalties against ocean carriers and marine terminal operators.
