ICS to debate proposed US actions against Chinese shipping, as country withdraws from IMO decarbonisation talks

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is holding an online webinar tomorrow (10 April) to discuss shipping industry reactions to the proposed US measures against Chinese-built and -linked ships calling their ports.

The one-hour webinar, entitled ‘Insights from the U.S. Trade Representative Section 301 Committee Public Hearing’ will be moderated by ICS Secretary General Guy Platten (pictured) and begins at 1300 BST. Free registration is available on the ICS website.

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Section 301 Committee held a public hearing on 24 and 26 March in Washington D.C, to hear testimonies on recent proposals to impose service fees on Chinese-built and Chinese-registered vessels calling at U.S. ports, and export quotas to promote the transport of U.S. goods on U.S. flagged vessels.

Also likely to be discussed at the ICS seminar are implications of latest development at the IMO where the US has withdrawn from this week’s crunch MEPC 83 meeting to finalise a shipping industry strategy for Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction.

The UK Chamber of Shipping reports the Trump administration as saying it has pulled out of International Maritime Organization negotiations to decarbonise shipping and threatening to retaliate against any fees imposed on US vessels. The decision came in the form of a diplomatic message sent by the US to other delegations at the IMO.