TSA seeks FMC nod for war goods levy
Member lines of the Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (TSA) are assessing whether they are legally bound to the US Federal Maritime Commission's (FMC) 30-day mandatory notice before announcing war-risk surcharges.
In the interim, the TSA, an informal body that sets freight rates for the transpacific trades, is to file with the FMC for permission to apply a US$450-per-teu (20 ft equivalent unit) rise for Pakistan-linked cargo.
The rate is far higher than what the lines expect to levy, but they want to ensure they are not caught with their collective pants down, sources within the organisation said.
TSA members also are looking at applying a Suez Canal surcharge, likely to be US$10 to US$20 per teu, for cargo linked to the Indian sub-continent.
Member lines of the Far Eastern Freight Conference, which move about 70 per cent of the Asia-Europe trade, last week added US$200 per teu for cargo transiting the Suez Canal, and US$250 for Middle East-linked cargo.
Lines in the Informal Rate Agreement, which ply the Middle East-Asia trade, last week raised their per-unit rates US$150.
