TWO of the main backers of last year's Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) in the US have come up with an updated piece of legislation which takes aim at China's influence in the ocean shipping space, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
US representatives Dusty Johnson and John Garamendi introduced the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act last week in a bid, the pair said, to crack down on the Chinese Communist Party's (CCPP) attempts to influence America's supply chain.
The bill would prohibit US ports from using China's National Transportation Logistics Public Information Platform (LOGINK), allows the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to investigate foreign shipping exchanges like the Shanghai Shipping Exchange to pre-empt improper business practices, and authorizes the FMC to streamline data standards for maritime freight logistics.
"We've seen the positive results of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, but there is more to be done to stay tough on China," said Mr Johnson. "The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act gives the FMC the authority to protect US ports, shippers, and manufacturers from the CCP's influence. Fair trade practices benefit all parts of the supply chain from producer to manufacturer, shipper to consumer."
Mr Garamendi commented: "After years of endless happy talk in Washington, we are finally making free trade fair trade and stopping Chinese state-controlled companies from ripping off our country and gutting our manufacturing jobs. Our implementation bill introduced today will finish the job."
Peter Friedman, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, said the new bill, dubbed OSRA 2.0, addresses emerging security and market control concerns relating to non-market economies with whom American companies trade and transport.
"This legislation is essential for modernizing the US freight sector and ensuring that US supply chains are resilient and secure in the face of increasing geopolitical volatility," said Christine Weydig, executive director, Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo).
The bill would also codify the definition of controlled carrier under the Shipping Act to encompass state-controlled enterprises in non-market economies like China.
The bill would also authorize the FMC to streamline data standards for maritime freight logistics and use existing data standards or industry best practices, including contracting an expert third party to develop the new federal data standard if needed.
It would also authorize the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to collect more information on port operations, such as the total of incoming and outgoing containers and yard capacity.
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