Toy Association Lauds Passage of Ocean Shipping Reform Act

June 13, 2022 | The Toy Association applauds the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, one of the Association's top legislative priorities, which President Biden is expected to sign into law in the coming days. The act seeks to address the continued pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and rising inflation costs. This includes directing the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to set stricter rules for carriers regarding harmful and discriminatory practices and demurrage and detention charges.

“From our Board Executive Committee making a direct appeal to the Chair of the FMC to months of constant advocacy across Capitol Hill to today's passage, for well more than a year we have been demanding action to address the shipping crisis our member companies continue to face,” said Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “This is a first good step in the continuing fight to stop outrageous ocean shipping charges, fees and penalties that have slammed U.S. toymakers, negatively impacting everyone from the smallest entrepreneur to the largest global brands we exist to serve."

Last Friday, The Toy Association joined a coalition of 17 consumer product groups in submitting a letter to congressional leaders urging final passage, citing past versions of the bill’s bipartisan support and the critical need for reform to alleviate ongoing congestion at the ports.

A vocal supporter of the bill since its introduction last August, The Toy Association has worked alongside fellow trade associations in engaging lawmakers on the negative impacts the supply chain crisis has had on American businesses, submitting a letter of support for the Ocean Shipping Reform Act upon its introduction, urging intervention by the U.S. government and FMC to implement solutions, and actively communicating with ports and fellow toy associations around the world. When bottlenecks threatened the 2021 holiday shopping season, The Toy Association also spearheaded a campaign to encourage shoppers to #shopearly4toys to avoid disappointment.

While the passage of this legislation is critical to fixing the supply chain, The Toy Association continues to provide members with resources to navigate the shipping crisis, including hosting a series of webinars with port executives. The next webinar will take place August 4 and will provide members with a Q4 forecast for the Port of Houston. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Members are encouraged to bookmark The Toy Association’s Shipping Crisis Resource Center for all the latest updates. For questions or further assistance, contact Ed Desmond, executive vice president of external affairs at The Toy Association.