MEPS QUESTION UNFAIR PRACTICES IN CONTAINER SHIPPING
On 23 July, MEP Tom Berendsen (EPP, NL), Annie Schreijer-Pierik (EPP, NL) and Henna Virkkunen (EPP, FI) submitted parliamentary questions to the Commission on unfair practices in the container shipping industry. With reference to congestion of port terminals, the lack of container capacity, the poor reliability of schedules and the ongoing surges in freight rates which heavily disrupt the maritime and logistic supply chain, the Commission has been asked to report on its monitoring activities and whether any carriers’ practices have been identified which are undermining fair competition.
MEPs also make a parallel with other regions of the world moving forward in tackling these practices, with US President Joe Biden launching an investigation on ‘unjust and unreasonable fees’ in container shipping. The Commission has also been asked what measures it will take to tackle and prevent unfair practices in the global container shipping industry and related supply chains. As the Parliamentary Questions were identified as a priority, the Commission should answer them within three weeks.