Rep. Wild Leads Members In Urging Action to Protect Community Businesses Against Price-Gouging, Anti-Competitive Business Practices In The Global Shipping Sector

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07) led 14 of her colleagues on a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)—urging the FMC to take stronger action against price-gouging and other anti-competitive business practices in the global maritime shipping sector. These practices by the large shipping alliances have been endangering the prospects of small and medium-sized businesses in the Greater Lehigh Valley and across the country.

"Over the past few months, I have been speaking with a number of business owners in our community about these challenges. The outrageous cost increases and hostile practices we are seeing are a threat to local businesses that employ workers in every corner of the Greater Lehigh Valley," said Rep. Wild. "Protecting these jobs requires making sure that our businesses can import and export items at reasonable cost and under reasonable circumstances."

Rep. Wild's letter points to President Biden's recent Executive Order (EO) on promoting competition in the American economy, posing a number of detailed questions to the FMC Chairman on how the commission plans to conduct its oversight and enforcement abilities, as well as encouraging the commission to present plans for more aggressive rules on these issues. In the letter, Congresswoman Wild also makes clear that she and her colleagues are prepared to work on legislation providing the FMC with additional authorities to set a policy fit for the 21st century with regard to the global shipping sector.

The full text of the letter is available here.