The International Housewares Association has joined a coalition of industry organizations in support of a new federal bill aimed at enacting sweeping changes to the law to curb unfair practices and charges by ocean carriers that have contributed to skyrocketing freight costs and extended delays for U.S.-bound containers.
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 is set to be introduced in the House of Representatives within the next few weeks by Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD). Johnson and Garamendi want the House to approve the new shipping reform legislation later this year as part of the Coast Guard reauthorization bill.
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 establishes minimum shipping service contract requirements while widening and strengthening the enforcement power of the Federal Maritime Commission regarding unfair ocean shipping practices.
The bill, among its many provisions, shifts the burden of proof in any proceeding with the FMC regarding the reasonableness of demurrage or detention charges from the invoiced party to the ocean carrier or marine terminal operator; authorizes the FMC to order refund relief and civil penalties in enforcement proceedings; permits third-party challenges to anti-competitive agreements in complaints against carriers filed with the FMC; and establishes anti-retaliation safeguards to protect companies filing complaints against the carriers.
-Derek Miller, IHA president
IHA joins several leading industry organizations in endorsing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021. These groups include the National Retail Federation, the American Apparel and Footwear Association and the National Industrial Transportation League.
“This bill culminates months of work by IHA and coalition members to have Congress and the FMC address the shipping crisis and the inequities that shippers have suffered,” said Craig Brightup, CEO of the Brightup Group and head of IHA’s Washington D.C. office.
The coalition is preparing a joint letter to Congress in support of the shipping reform bill. IHA members are encouraged to participate in a letter-writing campaign when the bill is introduced. IHA said it will alert members at that time with instructions on how to contact their congressional representatives.
“It is critical that every company join the effort to support the bill with their Members of Congress,” said Rafe Morrissey, president of Morrissey Strategic Partners and IHA government affairs representative. “We are working with our coalition allies to make that process as easy as possible for IHA members when the call to action comes.”
