Carriers Agree to Postpone Congestion Charges Through December

The 15 ocean carriers that are part of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement "have individually committed to forego imposition of any port congestion surcharges until 2015," said the Federal Maritime Commission in a press release (here). Members of that agreement include Cosco, China Shipping, Maersk, and Evergreen. "During this time, Commission staff will further address with the carriers our concerns for the lawfulness, fairness, and adequacy of notice of implementation," said FMC Chairman Mario Cordero. "The carriers’ commitment to defer the congestion surcharge offers the opportunity to continue this important dialogue and pursue greater transparency as to the timing and the need for future carrier surcharges. The monitoring by Commission staff of port congestion and related surcharges will continue." Carriers have gone back and forth on plans to add congestion surcharges during the labor dispute affecting the West Coast ports (see 1412020011).