FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.

NR 09-06

FMC HOLDS INDUSTRY BRIEFING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PACIFIC COAST COUNCIL

CONTACT: Karen V. Gregory, Secretary (202) 523-5725

FOR RELEASE - May 6, 2009

An industry briefing by the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Associations (PCC) was held on May 4, 2009 at the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The open-dialogue format of the briefing afforded the Commission the opportunity to gain greater insight and understanding of current issues and concerns affecting the freight forwarding and Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) industry conducting business on the West Coast. This feedback is valuable to the Commission given the changing dynamics of the ocean shipping industry in today's economy.

The briefing was moderated by Peter Friedmann, Counsel for the Pacific Coast Council, and fifteen PCC members participated by sharing their views with the Commission.  FMC Commissioners and staff were briefed on several issues impacting the Council, such as: current global trade conditions; re-emergence of container space shortages for export cargoes; the impact of new Automated Export System reporting requirements; and carrier practices with respect to freight forwarder compensation. 

Since 2004, the Federal Maritime Commission has held a series of informal briefings with shipping industry representatives to broaden and complement its existing communication channels with the U.S. international shipping industry. This briefing is an example of the FMC's continuing two-way dialogue with its stakeholders. By hearing the concerns of firms that play a critical role in facilitating the movement of goods to and from the U.S., the Commission receives information that may be considered in FMC policy discussions. As a measure of the industry's scope, the value of U.S. imports and exports via liner shipping during 2007 was $1.4 trillion (Source: U.S. Maritime Administration).

The Commissioners expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to hear directly from the Council members and anticipate similar briefings from other industry segments in the future.  

For more information about the FMC and its programs, please visit our website: www.fmc.gov.

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Press Contact:  Karen V. Gregory, Secretary (202) 523-5725; e-mail:  secretary@fmc.gov