PierPass – Beginning July 4, 2011, terminal operators at the LA/Long Beach ports will raise the PierPass fee from the current $50 per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) to $60. The PierPass program began in 2005 as a way to support off-peak gate operations at night and on the weekends. The PierPass fee is charged to cargo moving through terminals on weekdays from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with some exemptions for intermodal traffic.
Learn more from PierPass.
Ship Finder App – The Ship Finder app, originally launched in April, tracks real time vessel locations around the globe. While some users have voiced concerns about its accuracy and coverage, it is one of the more interesting shipping apps available for iPhone and iPad users. It is available in free, paid, and iPad specific versions.
Learn more from iTunes.
Exports Cut U.S. Trade Deficit – U.S. exports of goods and series increased 1.3% to a record level of $175.6 billion. Imports fell less than a half percent due mainly to a drop in auto imports from Japan due to remaining disruptions from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. Economists expect the U.S. deficit to end the year slightly higher despite continued strength in the export market.
Learn more from the JOC.
China to End Wind-Power Subsidies – As a result of a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against its subsidies to the wind-power industry, China has agreed to stop the programs that don’t comply with WTO rules. U.S. wind turbine manufacturers claimed that they were unable to compete in China due to the subsidies, unfair bidding practices, as well as other restrictions in the market.
Learn more from https://www.bloomberg.com/tosv2.html?vid=&uuid=d978b78e-c098-11ec-861d-66794943716a&url=L2V1cm9wZQ==.
