WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden signed the the root causes of America's supply chain problems. Ocean
Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 in an attempt to control carriers are the longest link in the global supply chain that
increasing inflation. delivers vital supplies to American business, government and
Key highlights of OSRA 2022 include: consumers. The supply chain is not foreign; it is global.
* Appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) WSC adds that "the worn-out talking point that there's only
for fiscal years 2022 through 2025; nine major ocean shipping lines who ship from Asia to the United
* Establishes additional requirements and prohibited conduct States is also untrue. While nine lines in and of itself is evidence
for ocean carriers; of competition and not concentration, there are an additional
* Requires the FMC to issue rules related to certain fee thirteen ocean liner companies that operated over 30 percent of
assessments, prohibited practices, and establishment of a the sailings from Asia to the U.S so far this year. In fact,
shipping registry; and competition increased during the pandemic with new shipping
* Authorises the FMC under certain circumstances to issue an services entering the market and the share of the largest
emergency order requiring common carriers to share alliances dropping. The FMC investigation also reports that the
information directly with shippers and rail and motor carriers. individual ocean carriers within each alliance continue to
Fix landside problems: World Shipping Council (WSC) compete on pricing and marketing independently and vigorously.
"Recent weeks have seen several attempts to demonise Individual ocean carriers within alliances continue to add and
ocean carriers by deploying 'us versus them' rhetoric," says the withdraw vessels from trades both inside and outside the
World Shipping Council in response to Biden signing the alliances in which they participate and, particularly in the
OSRA2022. "That is not only inaccurate but dangerous, as it transpacific, new entrants have been entering the trade. The
undermines the ability to understand and work towards solving transpacific is a highly contestable market.
