Biden’s ambitious GHG cuts will target shipping
April 23, 2021 President Joe Biden on Thursday officially announced the new target for the US to achieve a reduction of up to 52% from the 2005 level of greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2030. This target is consistent with his goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by no later than 2050 and of limiting global…
India's Adani removed from S&P eco index over alleged links to Myanmar
INDIA’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) will be removed from the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices following scrutiny over the company’s commercial relationship with Myanmar, accused of human rights abuses. After the military coup in February, a crackdown on protests has seen 700 people killed, drawing condemnation from human rights groups and international…
UK and EU still at odds over post-Brexit Northern Ireland
THE UK and the European Union plan to meet again in the next two weeks after failing to resolve their differences over how the Brexit trade deal is affecting Northern Ireland, reports Bloomberg. Brexit, which created an effective trade border down the Irish Sea has provoked riots and violence in Northern Ireland as well…
Brexit: Irish Sea border posts ‘delayed by two years’
The timeframe for permanent facilities to operate the Irish Sea border has slipped by two years, a Stormont committee has been told. They are now not expected to be built before 2023 The agreement of the executive will also be needed, potentially complicating the process of approval Earlier this week it emerged that a Whitehall…
People question how long they can stay in Hong Kong: Amcham chief
HONG KONG businesses are facing a “compounded new normal” as the city confronts challenges on multiple fronts, according to the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. “We’re seeing people start to question how long they can stay here. And whether being here is going to be effective for them long…
Some progress to ease GB-NI border friction, but our costs are rising, says industry
© Tanaonte | By Alex Whiteman, Brexit reporter 14/04/2021 Industry has welcomed the progress as the EU and UK edge closer towards easing GB-Northern Ireland border friction. But it has also urged governments to get past their “significant differences”. A spokesperson said cabinet minister David Frost would be meeting with EC vice president Maros Sefcovic tomorrow,…
EC's Block Exemption Regulation comes under renewed attack by GSF
THE Global Shippers Forum (GSF) has renewed lobbying the European Commission’s competition directorate to take a closer look at the liner shipping industry, reports The Loadstar, London. A year ago, the EC granted container lines another four years of exemption from its cartel competition laws under the Block Exemption Regulation (BER), under which container…
FMC vows to get to the bottom of the ongoing container crunch hammering US supply chains
April 8, 2021 Port of Long Beach The Federal Maritime Commission, America’s shipping regulator, met virtually and in closed session yesterday to discuss developments in the ongoing Fact Finding 29 investigation of challenges to the freight delivery system and possible Shipping Act violations, and to receive a briefing on the agency’s monitoring activities of ocean…
ESPO calls on member states and EU to take port projects on board in the recovery and resilience plans
Over the last months, European ports have been playing a critical role in the supply and distribution of essential goods and in keeping the economy running. As gateways to the world, being at the crossroads of supply chains, hubs of energy, industry and blue economy, ports can be unique engines of sustainable growth and recovery.…
European shippers push EU to action
Photo: European Commission 06.04.2021 At the EU’s Maritime Forum at the end of March 2021, the European Shippers’ Council again put forward the shippers’ position on unreliability and peaking prices in the maritime container transport. It is their conviction that, in reality, shippers, ports authorities, terminal operators and freight forwarders have had their efficiency…
Limited maritime spend in Biden’s $2trn infrastructure plans
April 2, 2021 On March 31, the White House released a fact sheet about its American Jobs Plan—referred to by President Biden as “a once-in-a-generation investment in America”—to rebuild infrastructure, create jobs and enable the country to better compete with China. Ports chiefs however will be disappointed by the limited spending earmarked for the sector. As…
Aussie wines to China hit by tarrifs of up to 218pc for 5 years
BEIJING has slapped massive duties on wine from Australia for the next five years, a move that threatens to deprive the country’s winemakers of their top export market and escalate a trade dispute, reports CNN Business. The duties, which took effect last Sunday and range from 116 per cent to 218 per cent, were…
China-EU deal wrecked on European Parliament refusal to ratify
CHINA’s investment deal with Europe has been wrecked as major parties in the European Parliament withhold support while sanctions remain on elected officials, reports Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. Three of the four biggest parties have already said that they cannot support the deal until sanctions are lifted, while some factions of the European…
US, UK and Canada tell shippers to stop use of Xinjiang forced labour
THE UK, US and Canadian governments have recently announced a range of new measures in relation to human rights violations alleged to be taking place in Xinjiang province, according to Chicago international law firm Baker McKenzie. In response, China summoned foreign diplomats in protest after these countries jointly imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials…
UK ports industry calls on UK administrations to prioritise industry over politics
Ahead of the Welsh and Scottish elections on May 6, and the approaching period of purdah on March 25, the BPA has called for a four-nation approach to ensure ports in the devolved administrations are not disadvantaged by a significant delay behind the English Freeports. Concerns have been raised following a letter sent to industry…
UK government in legal tug of war over Northern Ireland as EU launches court action
Lorries of freight arriving at the Stena Line roll on / roll off Liverpool to Belfast ferry terminal in Birkenhead on the River Mersey. © Alan5766 By Alex Whiteman, Brexit reporter 15/03/2021 Downing Street is embroiled in a legal tug of war, potentially threatening the stability of Northern Ireland and further eroding confidence in post-Brexit UK…
Britain mulls G-7 trade ministers meet in Northern Ireland May 26
BRITAIN has proposed holding Group of Seven trade ministers in Northern Ireland May 26-27, disturbing EU diplomats, reports Bloomberg. According to a source familiar with the plans, the idea of holding G-7 trade talks to Northern Ireland has raised eyebrows because Britain is embroiled in a dispute with the European Union over whether Prime…
Northern Ireland 'hamstrung' by Brexit, which may threaten quality of life
© Thanee Hengpattanapong | By Alex Whiteman, Brexit reporter 26/02/2021 Brexit has “hamstrung” Northern Ireland, with its unfettered access to Great Britain reduced and a fix potentially months away as business waits on the UK government to supply accurate data. Senior economist at Ulster University’s Business School Esmond Birnie warned that costs in NI were rising…
Biden backs Trump's hardline against Beijing's Hong Kong policy
US President Joe Biden’s administration ended hopes for a softer approach to the World Trade Organisation by pursuing predecessor’s strategies critics say risk undermines the international trading system, reports Bloomberg. “The situation with respect to Hong Kong constitutes a threat to the national security of the United States,” the US delegation said. “Issues of…