Costa pushing to protect American ag producers from unfair business practices

FRESNO, Calif. - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) co-signed a letter urging the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to uphold the congressional intent of the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-14) as the law is implemented.

“The ten largest ocean carriers and three global alliances reportedly control more than 80 percent of the global market,” wrote the Members of Congress. “As American exporters and other businesses navigate this anti-competitive marketplace, they must have an ally in our nation’s only ocean carrier regulator: the Federal Maritime Commission.”

This request comes after U.S. Representatives Costa, Garamendi, Lee, and Thompson held a roundtable discussion at the Port of Oakland with agricultural producers, and other industry leaders to discuss solutions to the supply chain crisis.

The bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act prohibits ocean carriers from discriminating against American exporters and unreasonably refusing cargo space accommodations. This law grants the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) the authority to investigate ocean carriers’ business practices and apply enforcement measures as appropriate following the unreasonable refusal of American exports throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  President Biden signed this bill into law on June 16, 2022.

A copy of the letter is available here.

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