Taking a Stand
Effective June 21, any goods made in whole or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China will be banned for import by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act will effectively ban any goods mined, produced or manufactured in XUAR because it is deemed to be produced by forced labor in China.
Goods may be detained coming from other countries if the CBP suspects that part of the product was made in that region.
All importers are expected to review their supply chain and ensure that all their goods are ethically sourced.
Source: ST&R
Charged Accusations
2.2 billion dollars in the 3rd quarter of 2021 invoiced by ocean carriers to shippers in per diem charges -
It’s no wonder why the Federal Maritime Commission received 27 fillings from various organizations including the Intermodal Association of North America to alter their current regulations.
Demurrage and detention bills are charged when containers linger too long at marine terminals or when they cannot be returned back to their terminal of origin.
Profiting Off of a Problem
Per diem charges don’t reflect instances when shippers cannot return empty containers to marine terminals.
Due to space limitations, the LA and NY marine terminals both frequently lock out empty containers. Other times, the ocean carriers direct marine terminals to not accept empties. Charges can incur when an ocean carrier informs the shipper that a container has arrived at the terminal even though it’s not ready for pickup. It can take two or more weeks to pick up a container but ocean carriers only give shippers 4 days to retrieve it resulting in more fines.
Regardless of the reasoning, ocean carrier invoices do not reflect those circumstances and they are wrongly profiting off of it.
They claim that a loss of container days is a loss of business but the ports are filled with empty containers so ocean carriers are winning all around.
Source: JOC
It’s Pouring
Flooding has incurred wreaking havoc and damage to the key South African port in Durban. It’s the heaviest rainfall in six decades and has amounted to as much rain as would fall during an intense hurricane.
Shipping has been suspended, the roads leading into the terminal have been damaged and some shipping containers have gone adrift.
Hopefully, no more damage will incur and the roads and port will return back to normal operations shortly.
Source: AJOT