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DGX - Dependable Global Express
9/4/2024
Dear Valued Customer,
The following is provided for your information:
Holiday Schedules
The offices listed below will be closed for the holidays as follows:
Australia | King’s Birthday (Fremantle) AFL Grand Final (Victoria) | September 23 September 27 |
Japan | Respect for the Aged Day Autumnal Equinox Day Substitute Holiday for Autumnal Equinox Day | September 16 September 22 September 23 |
Please remember that certain offices are across the International Dateline. The dates above are their dates, not the actual U.S. date.
International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Potential Strike
The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) represents approximately 45,000 workers in over three dozen ports along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. Their current labor contract expires on September 30, 2024, and negotiations for a new contract deal have remained stalled since early June. The ILA President has declared that its members are on board with going on strike on October 1st if the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) does not meet their demands.
While the ILA has been adamant in not wanting federal mediation, on August 26th, they filed a notice to mediation agencies with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). This is to inform the FMCS of a dispute between the ILA and USMX and does not represent an agreement for mediation.
The ILA has designated a committee that will meet on September 4th and September 5th to review contract demands when negotiations eventually resume. The ILA delegates are urging using these meetings to also establish strike committees from Maine to Texas to be ready for October 1st.
An ILA strike would be severely detrimental to the North American supply chains. These channels are already disrupted by the Red Sea crisis and the Panama Canal drought among other challenges. Analysts estimate that the backlog resulting from a strike of one week could not be cleared until mid to late November. A work stoppage lasting a couple of weeks may cause port operation delays lasting into 2025. In addition to supply chain congestion, a strike may lead to freight rate increases in all US lanes.
We urge you to stay abreast of developments and updates on this situation to be better prepared. Please get in touch with your DGX team for the latest information and planning assistance to minimize disruptions to your supply chain. We will help identify the best alternatives based on cargo specifics as well as your business priorities.
TMF at Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to Increase 6%
The West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA) announced that on September 1, 2024, the Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will increase by 6%. The adjustment matches the increase in longshore wage and assessment rates recently increased in the coastwide contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association.
Beginning September 1, the TMF will be $37.71 per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) or $75.42 for all other size containers. The TMF is charged on non-exempt containers. Containers exempt from the TMF include empty containers; import cargo or export cargo that transits the Alameda Corridor in a container and is subject to a fee imposed by the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority; and transshipment cargo. Empty chassis and bobtail trucks are also exempt.
Seasonal Measures for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) 2024-2025
The season will begin with vessels that berth at, load, or transship from risk countries from September 1st, 2024, until April 30th, 2025 (inclusive).
AU: The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) has announced the seasonal measures.
Breakbulk cargo, Full Container Load (FCL) containers, and Freight of All Kinds (FAK/LCL) shipments from high-risk countries, including the USA, containing target high-risk commodities, are required to be fumigated for Australia at the origin.
All tariffs under the following chapters are categorized as Target High Risk and require mandatory fumigation treatment.
36 - Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations | 74 - Copper and articles thereof | 84 - Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances; parts thereof |
44 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal | 75 - Nickel and articles thereof | 85 - Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles |
45 - Cork and articles of cork | 76 - Aluminum and articles thereof | 86 - Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signaling equipment of all kinds |
57 - Carpets and other textile floor coverings | 78 - Lead and articles thereof | 87 - Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock and parts and accessories thereof |
68 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica, or similar materials | 79 - Zinc and articles thereof | 88 - Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof |
69 - Ceramic products – including sub-chapters I and II | 80 - Tin and articles thereof | 89 - Ships, boats, and floating structures |
70 – Glass and glassware | 81 - Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof | 93 - Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof |
72 - Iron and steel - including sub-chapters I, II, III, IV | 82 - Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons, and forks of base metal; parts thereof of base metal | |
73 - Articles of iron or steel | 83 - Miscellaneous articles of base metals | |
Note ALL bookings to Australia will require a signed BMSB declaration. The completed declaration must be submitted prior to the documentation cut-off. Failure to do so may result in your shipment being delayed.
For more information on DAFF requirements, please visit:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs
NZ: The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) season measures will continue, targeting vehicles, machinery, and parts, as in previous years.
Any risk goods need to have a manufacturer’s declaration confirming the cargo is new, was produced indoors and stored indoors before export.
For any used vehicle, machinery, machinery, vehicle parts, and other targeted high-risk commodities, DGX will fumigate at the origin.
For more information on MPI requirements, please visit:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/import/vehicles-machinery-parts/brown-marmorated-stink-bug-requirements-for-importers/
With the aim of maintaining transit time integrity and minimizing financial impact, DGX will treat all LCL cargo categorized as Target High Risk sailing from the USA to Australia and New Zealand at an approved treatment facility in Los Angeles.
The LCL fumigation charges for this season will be USD 45.00 per w/m with a minimum of USD 200.00.
It is important to note that there are also new strict rules for cargo under plastic wrapping requiring fumigation. All shrink wrap needs to be open on top and bottom. If you require more information on this, please reach out to the DGX customer service team.
FCLs will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and approved fumigation facilities across the US will be used.
Should you have any questions, please contact your local DGX office or representative, or call us at 888-488-4888 or 310-669-8888.
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Should you need any assistance, contact your local DGX office or call us at 888-488-4888.
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