The new Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) that was adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) just took effect and was welcomed by International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu Aug. 20. He said the convention "marks significant progress in the recognition of seafarers' roles and the need to safeguard their well-being and their working conditions." The treaty has been ratified by 48 countries.
The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.
The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) requested help with obtaining clarifications from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) regarding its new value-added tax (VAT) on Aug. 14, NITL said. In letters to the U.S. Department of State, Federal Maritime Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, NITL CEO Bruce Carlton said the new tax (see 13080111) has created confusion over its scope and application, “especially on freight moving between the two countries.” A copy of one of the letters is (here).
A UPS cargo plane flying from Louisville, Ky. crashed on its way to Birmingham, Ala., the company said in a press release. The Airbus A300 carried two crewmembers. The Associated Press reported the pilots were killed, though the UPS release said it has "not confirmed the status of our pilots." The company said it "will release more facts about this accident as they become available, but the [National Transportation Safety Board will be in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information going forward." The NTSB said its launching a full "Go-Team" to investigate the crash (here).
The Port of New Orleans cautioned the Commerce Department against imposing antidumping and countervailing duties on oil country tubular goods from nine countries, highlighting the importance of imported steel to the U.S. economy in an Aug. 5 letter to the agency. The investigation on the steel pipes implicates both the Port’s “continued growth and success”, as well as jobs and the economy in general, said Gary LaGrange, president of the Port.
Continued consideration in Congress of a revised Harbor Maintenance Tax as a means to improve U.S. port competitiveness is likely, said the Federal Maritime Commission Aug. 9 in a statement. Former agency Chairman and current Commissioner Richard Lidinsky noted the potential for HMT revisions as part of a one-year update to its report to Congress on the movement of U.S. inland containerized cargo entering through the Canadian or Mexican borders (see 12073001). The Senate approved some HMT reforms as part of the Water Resources Development Act (see 13051602) that passed earlier this year.
The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.
Freight charges payable in China are now subject to a new six percent tax, after expansion of China’s Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aug. 1. According to a news advisory by U.S.-based global logistics service provider BDP (here), industry can expect an “application of 6 percent for air and ocean export freight shipments where freight costs are paid in China.” However, trucking and warehousing rates will remain unaffected, BDP said.
The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.
The Federal Maritime Commission is revising its rules of practice and procedure, effective July 29, to update and clarify the rules and to reduce the burden on parties to proceedings before the Commission. The key changes are: