The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an international trade agreement being negotiated behind closed doors, continues to spark controversy among U.S exporters and the world. Originally, in 2005, TPP was a four party agreement between New Zealand, Chile, Singapore, and Brunei. Since then, the trade agreement expanded its membership to include the U.S, Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia,…
Read More »
If the ins and outs of Importer Security Filings (ISF) still seem fuzzy to you─you're not alone. Apparently many members of the trade community (not just importers) are confused about the ISF enforcement, as evident by a recent question and answer round-up released by U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Several of the questions in the…
Read More »
Truck drivers from four companies are on strike this morning at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. According to a spokeswoman for the union, many drivers are complaining of “persistent wage theft” from employers because they are considered “independent contractors” rather than full-time employees. About 200 truckers are reported to be on the…
Read More »
U.S. East Coast ports are buckling under the weight of record cargo volumes, causing many truckers to begin charging for hours lost due to terminal congestion. East Coast ports are struggling to get out from under an overload of containers, a situation created by the backlog at West Coast ports, a spat of winter storms,…
Read More »
If your goods are export controlled, then you're probably all too aware of the U.S. government's rules for your item. Yet what about the rules of the country to which you are exporting? Are you at all familiar with their export controls? If you're not, then you may be a target for illegal diversion, especially…
Read More »
Certain wood-based import products will soon need to meet Lacey Act import declaration requirements, according to a recent Federal Register notice by the U.S. Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Under the Lacey Act, which bans trafficking of illegally taken wildlife and plants, certain plants and plant products may not be imported without an…
Read More »
After more than nine months of negotiations, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union have reached a tentative agreement on the labor contract covering U.S. West Coast ports. While this must still be ratified by the rank and file of the union, it’s anticipated that the vote will be in support…
Read More »
With dozens of container ships at anchor outside U.S. West Coast ports, there still appears to be no budging from either side of ongoing labor negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU)—at least not publicly. However, according to the American Journal of Transportation, some progress is being…
Read More »
In an action that is tantamount to a lockout, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) has announced it will not order ILWU labor for vessels at U.S. West Coast ports for four of the next five days. The PMA selected these days, which include today, Saturday, Sunday, and the holiday on Monday (Presidents’ Day), because they…
Read More »
In a press release published last night, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) revealed details of its “all-in” West Coast labor contract offer to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). According to the release, the PMA, which represents the ocean carriers, designed the offer to include many concessions to union demands in an effort to…
Read More »
© 2025 Mohawk Global OTI No. 003952NF Terms of Use Privacy Policy