The Hong Kong Shippers' Council will hold a meeting today with members of the Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (TSA) to ask for a reduction in the controversial terminal handling charges.
Since May 1 last year, carriers have imposed a charge of US$2,855 per 40-foot container on traffic from Hong Kong to the United States.
'The shippers will press for a 30 per cent reduction in charges,' sources said.
Alternatively, shippers want carriers to incorporate the levy into an all-in-one charge similar to the arrangement before the 1990s.
Shippers have also asked carriers to consider giving notice of 90 days before imposing a rate increase and to introduce a joint-consultation mechanism to discuss such proposals.
The council will meet representatives of TSA members Sea-Land, Maersk, Orient Overseas Container Line, APL, P&O Nedlloyd and K-Line at the meeting.