Ocean Shipping Reform Act passes House

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 369-42, before being signed into law by President Biden, with its proponents claiming it will level the playing field for American exporters by making it tougher for foreign carriers to refuse export goods at ports.

In a statement, President Joe Biden said: “Lowering prices for Americans is my top priority, and I applaud the Congress for passing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act on a bipartisan basis, which will help lower costs for American retailers, farmers and consumers.

“In my State of the Union address, I called on Congress to address ocean carriers’ high prices and unfair practices because rising ocean shipping costs are a major contributing factor to increased costs for American families.”