On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Federal Maritime Fee issued a notice of proposed rulemaking which might allow ocean carriers to attend as much as thirty days earlier than submitting service contracts with the Fee. The change, ought to it in the end be adopted, represents vital new flexibility for carriers and shippers.
Service contracts are confidential ocean shipping agreements which allow carriers to supply reductions from tariff charges in change for quantity commitments, and different situations, within the U.S.-international trades. Beneath present guidelines, such agreements should be filed with the Fee earlier than they will come into impact. Within the proposed rulemaking, the Fee states that the proposed change goals at “avoiding the business hurt related to conditions wherein cargo is acquired after the events have agreed to a service contract however earlier than the service contract is filed with the Fee.”
Feedback are due on or earlier than March 4, 2021.