Inside Trade

February 14, 2025

Insider Interview

Rep. Smith: Congress needs answers about ocean carriers spurning U.S. exports

By Margaret Spiegelman  / March 12, 2021 at 8:45 AM
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) is calling on the Federal Maritime Commission to urgently seek answers and consider “enforcement options” following reports that ocean carriers are refusing to ship U.S. agricultural goods. A pandemic-fueled spike in U.S. imports last year led to increased demand in Asia for shipping containers to carry those goods to the U.S. The demand spike has incentivized carriers to return empty containers to Asia rather than pay to move them from ports to the interior of the...

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