A bipartisan group of 100 lawmakers sent a letter to Michael A. Khouri, chair of the Federal Maritime Commission, expressing concern over reports that certain vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs) are declining to ship U.S. agricultural commodities from U.S. ports.
VOCCs link producers and overseas customers by providing transportation by water between the U.S. and a foreign country for compensation.
“The American agricultural sector, in particular, stands to be hit hard by the delays, congestion, and the reported discriminatory practices by VOCCs,” the letter stated.
“With more than 20 percent of U.S. agricultural production aimed for export, reaching foreign markets is essential to American producers and the viability of our agricultural sector at large.”
The letter stated that VOCCs accept shipments to U.S. ports and then leave with empty containers without goods for export.
“Our nation’s agriculture industry feeds the world, which is why agricultural exports are so critical to not only getting food on the dinner table but to the livelihood of producers,” said Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE-3) in a statement.
“These troubling reports of VOCCs refusing to ship U.S. exports at our ports must be investigated swiftly and have consequences if misconduct is revealed.”
