MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEETING During the recent gathering of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80), representatives from various Member States of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) came together to discuss the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. In a significant development, they unanimously approved the [...]
USMCA AUTOMOTIVE RULES OF ORIGIN The International Trade Commission (ITC) recently released its first USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation report. The report is mandated by section 202A(g)(2) of the USMCA Implementation Act. This Act requires the USITC, an impartial federal agency responsible for factual investigations, to [...]
72-HOUR STRIKE NOTICE Labor negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) have reached a tipping point. In a significant development, ILWU Canada issued a formal, written 72-hour strike notice indicating their intention to begin labor action on July [...]
SEVERE DROUGHT PROMPTS ADDITIONAL PANAMA CANAL DRAFT RESTRICTIONS Water levels in Gatun Lake - a main source of water for the Panama Canal locks - continue to fall below historic levels forcing the ACP to carefully manage this critical resource. ACP scheduled additional maximum authorized draft restrictions in June [...]
BLANK SAILINGS DECLINE Ocean carriers began implementing a new service approach transitioning from the random service cuts and blank sailings the industry experienced in April. May saw carriers begin to offer bi-weekly services in lieu of weekly services to meet volume demands and maintain regular deliveries for customers. This structured [...]
AIR CARGO PILOTS DEMAND BETTER CONTRACTS Air cargo pilots throughout North America are planning strikes if their demands for better contracts are not met. In Canada, pilots for a startup air cargo company are on the cusp of a labor stoppage, while union members at major integrator company in the [...]
European Union Sustainable Aviation Fuel Requirements The European Commission, the European Union's (EU) executive legislative branch, recently introduced new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) requirements and reporting for flights within and departing from the EU. This new law, called ReFuelIEU, aims to reduce the aviation industry's carbon footprint by replacing [...]
Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) announced the addition of another ship to its container service between the US Gulf Coast and the East Coast of South America. All ships on the service will slow steam and the Port of Mobile will be added in the service as ocean carriers renew [...]
The Panama Canal is a crucial shipping lane that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, enabling vessels to bypass the long journey around the tip of South America. The canal is currently facing significant challenges due to declining water levels in the lake system that supports the canal. DRY [...]
On March 17, the Court of International Trade (CIT) concluded that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) legally complied with Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requirements regarding Section 301 tariffs on China. CIT OPINION ON SECTION 301 TARIFF ACTION CIT initially stated that USTR lacked responses to thousands of [...]
