U.S. President Joe Biden plans to sign into law on Thursday improving shipping surveillance, which lawmakers said will help curb inflation and ease export delays.
The bipartisan bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week, 42 against 369.
The legislation will expand the investigative powers of the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the agency that oversees shipping, and increase transparency of industry practices.
The bill would allow the FMC to launch an investigation into the commercial practices of common lines shipping, a term that generally refers to cargo ships operating on the high seas.
Under the new rules, yet to be determined by the FMC, the agency will also be able to implement enforcement measures, requiring carriers to report their “total import/export tonnage” to the agency every three months, and prevent unreasonable downing of shipping lines. Diminishing opportunities for US exports.
The World Maritime Council said it will work with the FMC to implement the bill “in a way that minimizes disruption to our supply chain.”
source: Noticias
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