The AgTC mission established 28 years ago is even more critical today. Everything produced in the US — agriculture, forest products, commodities (resins) — can be sourced elsewhere in the world. The US may produce the best, but if products cannot be delivered dependably and affordably, our foreign customers will find a provider in another country.
The highest AgTC priorities for 2017 will be to assure that governments/regulators, carriers, marine terminals, and longshore labor understand that our US exports are unbranded, highly fungible, and highly sensitive to foreign competition; we cannot abide disruption, and unnecessary costs or burdens.
The AgTC must assure that our success in exempting US exporters from the ocean carriers’ bizarre SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM)scheme is permanent. The solution proposed by AgTC’s 2016 person of the year, Charleston’s Jim Newsome, that the terminals weigh the loaded containers, must be honored. In 2017, we will continue to stamp out every remaining instance when a carrier, or terminal or forwarder demands the CGM from the US exporter.
In 2017, AgTC members will continue to meet face to face with senior executives of the ocean carriers, and separately, with longshore labor leaders. Moving from 18 ocean carriers to 10, further consolidated into just three alliances, means larger ships, less competition operationally, fewer sailings for exporters to select from, and more stress on terminals and labor. These meetings produce tangible benefits, from voluntary waiver of demurrage and detention fees, to productivity enhancements, night gates, etc.
AgTC will continue to work with all parties as the first and best option, but will not hesitate to seek government intervention when necessary.