World Shipping Council Criticizes Senate Committee Passage of Ocean Shipping Reform Bill
Congress should abandon the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which will not address the “root causes” of the nation’s port congestion and shipping issues, the World Shipping Council said. After the Senate Commerce Committee passed the bill March 22 (see 2203220033), the WSC, which represents many of the world's major ocean carriers, said the legislation doesn't do “anything to fix the landside logistics breakdowns that are at the heart of America’s supply chain problems.”
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“Instead of passing legislation that would do nothing to address the nation’s supply chain congestion, Congress should seek real solutions that take a comprehensive, forward-looking view,” the WSC said, also criticizing the House’s passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act in December (see 2112090027). The council said Congress should instead focus on more investment in port infrastructure and better communication, innovation and collaboration across logistics sectors. The bill has been lauded by shippers, who say it could help hold carriers accountable for unfair fees and declined export bookings (see 2108100011).