PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Shipper Associations Thank FMC

September 9, 2015

See below for a letter sent today to the Federal Maritime Commission from leading associations of US exporters and importers:

Federal Maritime Commission
800 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20573

Dear Chairman Cordero and Commissioners Doyle, Dye, Khouri, and Lidinsky:

On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we wish to express our appreciation for the Commission's recent actions demonstrating a commitment to stewardship of the interests of U.S. exporters and importers, including the agriculture, manufacturing, and retail sectors.

We believe that the Commission's response to the petition for amendment of OAKMTOA 201202-006 submitted by marine terminal operators at the Port of Oakland for the purpose of establishing an "OAKPASS" program at the Port of Oakland, is consistent with its mandate under the Ocean Shipping Act.

We laud the Port of Oakland for its ongoing efforts to bring the terminal operators, terminal labor, truckers, freight forwarders, and shippers together to develop a coordinated approach to enhancing terminal operations. We were thus surprised and concerned that the terminal operators proceeded to present to the Commission an OAKPASS program that had not been shared with these other parties. That the Commission has asserted the need for the terminal operators to collaborate with the cargo interests who will be actually paying the fees, is significant, appropriate and appreciated.

We stand ready, as do our members who ship through West Coast terminals, to work constructively with the terminal operators; we depend upon the Commission to require such collaboration in the case of this petition and other actions impacting terminal operations.

Sincerely,

Agriculture Transportation Coalition
National Industrial Transportation League
National Retail Federation
Oregon Potato Commission
Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders
Specialty Crop Trade Council
The Waterfront Coalition
US Forage Export Council
U.S.S.A (U.S. Shippers Association)
Wine and Spirits Shippers Association