Federal Maritime Commission Chairman statement on Biden Executive Order

Chairman Daniel B. Maffei issued the following statement following his attendance at today’s White House signing ceremony for theExecutive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy:

I applaud President Biden for his leadership in calling “all hands on deck” to ensure fair competition across the supply chain. The Federal Maritime Commission is an independent agency led by five independent Commissioners. However, as Chairman, I commit to doing all I can to have the Commission fully participate in this government-wide coordinated effort to benefit the U.S. economy.

In recent months, we have increased our scrutiny of the ocean carrier alliances to identify evidence of anticompetitive behavior regarding rates and capacity, and we will continue to do so as the COVID-19 and import surge crisis continues. We welcome the assistance and cooperation from other agencies, including the Department of Justice.

With regard to detention and demurrage charges, it remains a top priority of the agency to identify and take action against those who flout the Commission’s recent interpretive rule on reasonable regulations and practices. The President’s action today reinforces these efforts and indicates his prioritization of a fair and reliable supply-chain.