Union Pacific Pauses West Coast to Chicago Rail Traffic
Intermodal container congestion and delays seem destined to get worse before it gets better. Union Pacific has announced that “it will halt all shipments of international containers from West Coast ports to its Global IV terminal in Chicago for up to a week.”
This report from Trains.com says Union Pacific is taking this action to give its Chicago terminal time to catch up on a backlog of containers there.
This report from I [...]
Mediterranean Shipping Imposes Emergency Intermodal Charge
Ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced that it will impose an Emergency Intermodal Charge (EIC) to offset its rising costs for providing inland services. Effective August 1, 2021 (gate in date at port of loading) and until further notice, MSC will charge an EIC in the amount of USD $350 per container for all US import cargo arriving via US and Canadian gateways where MSC is responsible for rail, rail and truck, truck [...]
Read MoreContinued Delays and Congestion
We believe it is important to keep our clients informed of developments in the international supply chain. Unfortunately, the situation in the US continues to worsen - many ocean carriers have discontinued or limited IPI (Interior Point Intermodal) rail transportation into the Midwest. Similarly, the status of Midwest rail yards, specifically Chicago, has become a major bottleneck point, with some containers sitting for over a month after [...]
Read MoreBooking Cancellation Fee / Premium Rates / IPI Service at Risk
As you are aware, steamship lines are currently charging premiums on top of the normal ocean rate to increase the chances that a full container (FCL) booking request will be accepted, and space be allocated to overseas shippers. C J has received news from our overseas agents, primarily those located in China and other Asian ports, that steamship lines will begin assessing fees if bookings are made but suppliers are not able to meet the timeline [...]
Read MoreMarine Cargo Insurance? – Consider the Ever Given General Average Declaration
The entire world recently watched closely as rescue crews worked to free the Evergreen Marine container ship vessel Ever Given from the banks of the Suez Canal. Blocking all traffic in one of the world’s key waterways for a week has added more stress to global supply chains that were already severely strained. One aspect of this incident that global importers and exporters should consider is the maritime law of General Average. General Aver [...]
Read MoreCBP Enforcement of Forced Labor – Withhold Release Orders
Merchandise produced or manufactured in a foreign country using forced labor, including indentured labor and forced child labor is banned from importation into the United States. Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 prohibits entry of these goods.
In 2018 CBP established a Forced Labor Division to lead the enforcement of the prohibition on the imports made with forced labor. Shortly thereafter, they began issuing Withhold Release Orders [...]
Container Ship Blocking Suez Canal
Evergreen Marine’s container ship, the Ever Given, has run aground in Egypt’s Suez Canal, causing a backlog of vessels moving on the waterway. In an effort to alleviate additional backlog, Egyptian authorities have reopened an older section of the canal and crews are using tug units to attempt to free the Ever Given. It is unknown how long it may take to free the vessel, which Evergreen Marine has stated was “suspected of being hit by a su [...]
Read MoreEU (European Union) Section 301 Large Civil Aircraft Tariffs Temporarily Suspended through July 11, 2021
The U.S. Trade Representative has announced a temporary suspension of additional duties on products from the European Union. Suspension of these tariffs are for certain goods entered on or after March 11, 2021 through July 11, 2021. These exclusions were originally imposed on October 9, 2019. On January 6, 2021, additional duties were announced and imposed, specifically 15% on large civil aircraft parts from France and Germany, 25% on other F [...]
Read MoreChina Tariff Exclusions – USTR Extends through September 30, 2021
The U.S. Trade Representative has approved extensions on HTS headings 9903.88.62, 9903.88.63, 9003.88.64 and 9903.88.65 which are modified by extending Section 301 tariff exclusions through September 30,2021 on certain products for 99 medical care and COVID-19 response products from China.
These exclusions were originally due to expire on March 31, 2021.
Please review this list to see if your products are affected. Impo [...]
Transportation Logistics Challenges
We realize that persistent port and rail ramp congestion, container chassis shortages, and excessive detention and demurrage fees from carriers, as well as upheaval among air cargo service providers, are causing significant harm to your import and export supply chains.
U.S. customs brokers, freight forwarders, and non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) of all sizes are facing multi-week delays and higher costs of routing shipments [...]