The End May Be Near for Ocean Carrier Price-fixing

The removal of the limited ocean carrier anti-trust immunity seems to be gaining support, says NITL ocean cargo committee chair, Michael Berzon.

“The National Industrial Transportation League’s Washington Freight Transportation Policy Forum, Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee announced that in response to practices by ocean liner carriers serving the U.S. trades, he would propose legislation ending the limited anti-trust immunity that remains in effect,” he said.

Currently, said Berzon, it permits the ocean carriers in the U.S. trades to join in discussion agreements where they can discuss rates and capacity issues.

“If enacted, the end of the limited anti-trust immunity would follow the action taken by European regulators. Since the elimination of the EU Block Exemption, it prohibits consultation by groups of carriers to discuss rates in the European trades.”