Tropical Shipping hails ‘huge victory’ as U.S. backs off on increased container fees

See below the full release from Tropical Shipping: 

Riviera Beach, Florida – President Trump’s executive order aimed at revitalizing the U.S.  shipbuilding industry grandfathered American-owned carriers like Tropical Shipping that  currently rely on Chinese-built vessels. The United States Trade Representative (USTR)-proposed surcharges that would have cost Tropical Shipping customers an additional $3,000  per 40-foot container load, will not go into effect. 

“This is a huge victory for us and the entire Caribbean region that we serve,” said Tropical  Shipping President and CEO Tim Martin. “Our voices were heard. We could not have  accomplished this without the relentless advocacy from our Caribbean representatives in  Washington, D.C., our customers, and the many organizations that wrote letters to the USTR  describing the devastating multiplier effect these port fees would have had on all of us.” 

Martin says a USTR committee member was surprised by the massive response from  Caribbean leaders and businesses. 

“One of Tropical’ s core values is, ‘Responsiveness is our driving force.’ Caribbean communities  were our driving force on this issue, and I can’t thank you enough. I want to give a special  thanks to the following: 

• Our dedicated employees 
• Our customers 
• Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, United States Virgin Islands 
• Governor Albert Bryan – United States Virgin Islands
• Teri Helenese, Director of the Federal Relations Office of the Governor of the United  States Virgin Islands 
• President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Guyana 
• Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and Chair of CARICOM 
• Dr. Patrick Antione, CARICOM Private Sector Organization 
• Wazim Mowla, Atlantic Council 
• Caribbean Shipping Association 
• Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association 
• Caribbean Ambassador to the United States 
• Caribbean Tourism Organization 
• Members of the Florida Congressional Representatives

Martin will continue to advocate in Washington, D.C., to strategize the long-term plans to bring  U.S. shipbuilding back to the U.S. and how American carriers like Tropical can prepare for the  future.

Tropical Shipping is headquartered in Riviera Beach, Florida, and has served the Caribbean  market since 1963. Tropical’s transportation services include refrigerated, dry, Full-Container Load (FCL), Less-than-Container-Load (LCL), small package, consolidation, inland  transportation, and global logistics services. For more information about Tropical Shipping, visit:  Tropical.com