LWU, PMA say ‘cargo will keep moving’
The collective bargaining agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and employers represented by the Pacific Maritime Association expired at 5 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday without reaching agreement on a new contract. In a joint statement, the ILWU and PMA said “while there will be no contract extension, cargo will keep moving, and normal operations will continue at the ports until an agreement can be reached.”

China decision sinks P3
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced it would not approve the proposed P3 Network between Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and CMA CGM, scuttling the effort by the three carriers to move the vessel-sharing agreement forward.

Enforcement of Importer Security Filing
In a recent Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) notification (CSMS 14-000283), the Trade was advised that CBP had issued updated guidance to the ports regarding enforcement of the Importer Security Filing. CBP has since posted an FAQ document on their website detailing the update.
Here are a few “key points” behind the new strategy:
CBP Headquarters (HQ) will allow local discretion at the port levelResets the 12-month HQ review period that began on July 9, 2013 and will now conclude on May 13, 2015Standardized approach to allow for analysis into non-compliant ISF filings with the intent to conduct focused outreachMinimum of three (3) warnings to non-compliant importers.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
The European Commission announced on June 18th that it will host another round of discussions on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in Brussels July 14-18. According to the announcement, during this round, negotiators will continue their discussions on issues such as trade in goods and services, regulatory issues, government procurement, environmental protection and labor rights, energy and raw materials, and opportunities for small and medium size enterprises. To learn more about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) click here.