ILA Strike Reaches Tentative Agreement
As of Thursday, October 3rd, the ILA and USMX have reached a tentative deal on wages and extended their existing contract through January 15th, 2025 to provide time to negotiate a new contract and finalize[...]
MPF Minimum and Maximum Fees Adjusted
According to CSMS # 61572319, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is adjusting certain customs user fees and corresponding limitations established by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) effective October 1, 2024. One of[...]
Possible ILA Strike Looms, Threatening Operations at U.S East and Gulf Coast Seaports
As negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) stall, the possibility of an upcoming strike is sending ripples of concern through U.S. East and Gulf Coast seaports. Workers are[...]
LCL Consolidation Service Update
Please be advised that Westar International Forwarders have changed Pittsburgh warehouses for cargo arriving via our ocean LCL consolidation service. We are thrilled to partner with AIRGO Worldwide Logistics, LLC, as they will be our[...]
Operations Continue As Normal
As the Nation comes together to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Federal and State Governments have issued guidance and or directives that reinforces the need for critical infrastructure industries to maintain normal work schedules[...]
January 2020 News Update
BIMCO: Low-Sulfur Fuel Sales Rise as Shipping Industry Responds to IMO 2020 The final quarter of 2019 marked a massive decline of high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) sales as the industry transitioned into compliance with the[...]
Changes to US Customs Duties/Taxes Payments Procedure
Recently, the U.S. Administration has begun the process of implementation of increased and additional duties for various imported goods. This situation has resulted in a substantial increase in our outlay of duties on behalf of our[...]
Trump postpones decision over EU tariffs, staving off potential trade war
Form: The Guardian.com White House extends Europe’s exemption from tariffs on steel and aluminum, which was due to expire Tuesday. Donald Trump has pulled back from a potential trade war with Europe by postponing[...]
FMC blames chassis, driver shortage for no-shows
American Shipper - By Brian Bradley |Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Senators are told, “American cargo owners are saying their equipment is getting stuck, their cargo is getting stuck at these inland places.” A shortage of[...]
Spending Bill Renews GSP Trade Preference Program
The Omnibus spending bill signed into law today included the retroactive renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade program which expired on 12/31/2017. The GSP provides for duty-free treatment to goods of designated beneficiary[...]
ILA – USMX to Resume Talks
NEWS FLASH: ILA, USMX to resume contract talks The union and employers revealed Friday they will resume master contract discussions, saying that issues and concerns regarding automation, which caused the talks to come to a[...]
The detention, demurrage fee conundrum
American Shipper - Eric Johnson The Federal Maritime Commission has yet to determine if entities should receive relief from ocean carriers and terminals assessing free time penalties when the cause of exceeding contracted free time[...]
House passes miscellaneous tariff bill
The Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act (H.R. 4318), which has now moved to the Senate for approval, promises to eliminate $1.1 billion in import tariffs during the next three years and boost U.S. manufacturing output by[...]
Commerce finds subsidized steel flange imports from China, India
Steel flange exporters in China receive government subsidies of 174.73 percent, while in India, these exporters receive government subsidies ranging from 5 percent to 239.61 percent, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The U.S. Commerce[...]
Newsletter January 2018
2018 Rate Outlook: Economic Expansion, Pushing Trade and transport analysts see rates rising across all modes in accordance with continued expansion of domestic and international markets. Economists, meanwhile, say shippers can expect revenue growth in[...]
November News Update
Top 35 Ocean Carriers: Still a puzzlement The collapse of Hanjin in 2016 fueled speculation that new players might be emboldened to enter the “top tier” and begin competing for market share. With this, logistics[...]
FMC’s NVO rate agreement simplification moves to proposed rulemaking
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission voted to move forward with issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register calling for industry feedback into simplifying the agency’s rules and procedures for NSAs and NRAs.[...]
News Update Sep 2017
NY/NJ handles 14,400 teu vessel following Bayonne Bridge raising The 14,400 teu capacity vessel, CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt has become the largest container ship to call the Port of New York and New Jersey after[...]
July News Update
Commentary: Dockworkers hold fist over America's supply chains U.S. shippers should not underestimate the power the nation’s longshore unions hold over the flow of containerized cargo, said Chris Gillis, editor at American Shipper. More... Senators introduce[...]
News Letter April 2017
Commentary: Dockworkers hold fist over America's supply chains U.S. shippers should not underestimate the power the nation’s longshore unions hold over the flow of containerized cargo, said Chris Gillis, editor at American Shipper. More... Senators[...]
China Consolidation has arrived
Our clients have asked for a quicker more consistent transit time for LCL cargo from China, just like we provide in our European consolidation. We have responded by kicking off our ocean consol service from Shanghai.[...]
News Flash
ILA members call for shutdown of ports along Atlantic, Gulf Coasts The International Longshoremen’s Association said it plans to march in Washington, targeting the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor and the South Carolina[...]
News Flash
The after effects from container shipping industry’s momentous 2016 Last year saw massive changes in container shipping, but will they benefit retailers and other shippers in 2017? By Chris Dupin AS Magazine Jan 30,[...]
Westar News January 2017
Shipping Alliances New alliances threaten to raise US port costs More information - CLICK HERENew alliances, bigger ships put US ports on high alert More information - CLICK HEREDrewry: New alliances to halt north-European service trends Shipping[...]
Westar’s China Consolidation Service Is In Place
China Consolidation Has Arrived! Our clients have asked for a quicker more consistent transit time for LCL cargo from China, just like we provide in our European consolidation. We have responded by kicking off our[...]