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 Maersk Sealand
quits trans-Pacific conference
Maersk Sealand is
resigning from the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) on 9/17/04
Although Maersk Sealand is the largest carrier in the eastbound Pacific
containerized cargo, remaining carriers of the TSA will continue to
control about 70 percent of the U.S. containerized imports from the
Pacific rim. Maersk, in making this decision, is looking to ways to
respond more quickly to their customer needs.
NVO decision likely delayed
In a case of now you see it and
now your don’t, in early August, a group of trade organizations and large
transportation service providers beseeched the FMC to act on their year
old requests to allow non-vessel-operating common carriers to sign
confidential contracts with shippers. Now these same groups have asked for
a delay in the FMC decision. In response to the comments made by
interested industry participants, other wish to reply to these comments
and are asking for a delay until September 30, 2004.
Customs to enforce truck e-reporting
Customs and Border
Protection will begin enforcing electronic advance reporting rules at the
busiest border crossings in New York, Michigan, Washington, and the
Southwest beginning Nov. 15 for inbound trucks. more...
Customs using
“documentary accuracy tests” to verify country of origin
DHS, State
Officials Outline Upcoming Changes in US Border Procedures
FDA releases
revised compliance policy guide for food laws |
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China/India Will Dominate World Textile Trade
A
Report recently published by the World Trade Organization (WTO) says
China and India are expected to dominate world trade in textiles and
clothing starting next year when the United States and other
industrial countries have to remove restrictions on imports, according
to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
The WTO
predicted that China alone will account for more than half of the
global textile market following the end to the quota system that has
governed international trade in textiles since the 1960s.
The WTO-negotiated
agreement will allow producers to export as much as they can sell -
and the report contends that will be a lot more than many developing
countries are selling now.
Indian
and Chinese industries will become significantly more competitive, as
the United States, the European Union and Canada - by far the world's
biggest importers of textiles - open their markets, the report said.
The
expected surge in Chinese and Indian competitiveness might be limited
by the time it takes for their products to reach consumer markets. The
report explained that the lag should help to insulate countries close
to the main markets from increased competition.
"Mexico, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and North Africa are therefore
likely to remain important exporters to the United States and EU
respectively, and possibly retain their market shares," said the WTO. |
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Lake Express FALL
Sailing Schedule
Starting Tuesday, September 14th, 2004, the Lake Express
sailing schedule will be as follows:
|
|
DEPART
* |
|
ARRIVE
* |
|
 |
|
Milwaukee |
7:30 |
am |
Muskegon |
11:30 |
am |
|
Milwaukee |
3:30 |
pm |
Muskegon |
7:30 |
pm |
|
|
|
Muskegon |
Noon |
|
Milwaukee |
2:00 |
pm |
|
Muskegon |
8:00 |
pm |
Milwaukee |
10:00 |
pm |
|
* All times are local.
|
 Bring
your car, take public transportation, or rent a vehicle at one of our
terminals.
Lake Express is capable of holding 46 cars for each passage across the
lake. It also provides passengers with the option of traveling without
their vehicle. Lake Express has full-service car rental through
Thrifty Car Rental at both terminals to handle your daily or weekly
transportation needs. Thrifty may be reached in Milwaukee at (414)
483-5870 and at our Muskegon terminal at (231) 759-3403. Ground
transportation through taxis and shuttle service is also available.
Lake Express
2330 S. Lincoln Memorial Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Phone
866-914-1010
http://www.lake-express.com |
St. Joseph-Chicago Ferry
Talk Heats Up Again
Plans for a
high-speed ferry service across Lake Michigan from St. Joseph are
still afloat. There was talk of starting a service between St. Joseph
and Chicago last year, but investors jumped ship.
A new group is taking
the idea full-speed ahead and has hired a consulting firm, The
Mariport Group Ltd. of Ontario, Canada, to do a feasibility study,
according to a story in Friday’s South Bend Tribune.
If results show it
will take off, the ferry could speed into port next year.
The proposed
passenger ferry could carry 149 passengers and make three round trips
a day. It would take two hours to get from St. Joseph to Chicago. The
proposed cost per person is $25 one way and $45 for a round-trip
ticket.
Several possible port
locations in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor are being considered. |
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|
 The
Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Transload
team
reports
success with its month-old service that connects shippers with
transloaders, those companies that provide warehousing and trucking
services to shippers. The new service, TransBid™, is an industry-first
online tool for matching shippers that have trucking and warehousing needs
with qualified transloaders.
The premise
is simple. Shippers log onto the TransBid Web site and fill out a detailed
form describing their need. The system sends email alerts to qualified
transloaders, who can then bid the job online. In addition to traditional
transloading opportunities, shippers can also post related service needs,
such as tarping or barcoding.
In its
first month of operation, TransBid has posted 25 shipment opportunities
and has been accessed by 1,300 individuals, says Brandon Unterbrink,
manager, Transload Services.
BNSF has
long helped shippers find transloaders. Until TransBid, the Transload team
could spend many hours on the phone, talking to shippers about their needs
and communicating those needs to transloaders. TransBid streamlines the
process by allowing the two groups to communicate directly. "TransBid even
has a message board feature so that the two parties can get more
information from each other if needed," Unterbrink says.
Only BNSF
premier transload facilities will be bidding on freight through TransBid,
giving shippers access to top-quality transload companies that have met
BNSF’s standards of quality, professionalism and customer service.
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Governor Jim Doyle will be leading a delegation of business and
community leaders to Japan September 24 - 30. The goal of the trip is
to promote the state's exports and encourage Japanese investment in
Wisconsin.
Japan is Wisconsin's #2 export destination, accounting for over $800
million worth of exports. It is an excellent market for medical and
health-related products. Wisconsin became the site of the first
Japanese-owned manufacturing facility in the United States when the
Kikkoman Corporation established a plant in Walworth in 1972. Since
then other Japanese investors including Sony, Sumitomo Electric, Fuji
Heavy Industries, Yamaha Motor Company, and others have settled in our
state. There is still room for more investment and greater trade. The
Governor is especially interested in fostering exchanges and
partnerships in the biotechnology and nanotechnology sectors.
International sales executives seeking to open new markets or
strengthen existing relationships, CEOs and entrepreneurs seeking to
make contacts with Japanese venture capitalists, representatives of
high tech organizations seeking exposure for Wisconsin technological
advances, and community leaders seeking to attract investors to their
region are all invited to participate in the trip.
The visit is timed to coincide with the joint meeting of the Midwest
US - Japan and the Japan - Midwest US Associations, and the BIO Japan
2004 trade show. Delegation members will also tour the Kazusa Research
Park in Wisconsin's sister-state of Chiba Prefecture.
Interested
participants should contact Mary Regel, phone: (608) 266-1767, e-mail:
mregel@commerce.state.wi.us
for more information. |
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