Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel Maffei traveled to Tacoma, Washington in May to hold meetings with a leading Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and senior executives from the port and transportation sectors, as well as to deliver keynote remarks at the Agricultural Transportation Coalition (AgTC) Annual Meeting.
Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) Chief Executive Officer John Wolfe welcomed Chairman Maffei to his offices located at the Port of Tacoma for discussion about international trade, port operations, and supply chain issues. The Port of Tacoma and Port of Seattle operate cooperatively through the NWSA which was established in 2015 via an agreement filed at the Commission.
Congressman Derek Kilmer (D-WA) joined the meeting at the NWSA. Mr. Kilmer represents the Sixth Congressional District where the port is located and is a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Tacoma was also the venue for the 36th Annual Meeting of the Agricultural Transportation Coalition where Chairman Maffei delivered keynote luncheon remarks highlighting the Commission’s successes in implementing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022). Of particular interest to the audience were comments addressing the final rule on Detention and Demurrage Billing Requirements becoming effective and news that the final rule on Unreasonable Refusal to Deal or Negotiate will be released soon.
“AgTC was a key group that made OSRA 2022 happen and OSRA 2022 started a transformation of the Federal Maritime Commission. That transformation is not by any means completed. But you are already seeing some of the results of your advocacy and activism on behalf of U.S. Agriculture exports,” Chairman Maffei told the audience.
Congressional champions were key to the passage of OSRA 2022 and Chairman Maffei cited the critical support provided by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
“One big reason for OSRA 2022 becoming law was the leadership of Senator Cantwell. As Chair of the Committee on Commerce, she had jurisdiction over this legislation and the underlying issues it was addressing. Chair Cantwell worked diligently to pass a strong bill that empowered the Commission to better help her home-state’s growers export their products,” said Chairman Maffei.
While also in Tacoma, Chairman Maffei met with executives from Expeditors’ ocean transportation business to discuss commercial, regulatory, and operational issues.
The above meetings took place in Tacoma on May 20 or May 21, 2024.
Chairman Daniel B. Maffei is a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed here are his own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Commission.