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The article shares comments on several economic-related issues including economic recovery of Germany, shipping subsidies in the U.S., and legality of Steel Corp.

The article discusses the apparent graft in the shipment of mail involving post office money being paid to shipping lines to carry non-existing mail.

The article offers the author's insights on the subsidies for the shipping industry in Asian and European countries. Topics mentioned include the shipping industry management in South Korea, the protection for container shipping industry, and the management of competition in the industry. Also mentioned are the investments management in the industry and the cost for transporting goods.

The article offers information on the E-Manifest initiative imposed by the Canada Border Services Agency. It notes that the agency has suggested the cross-border highway carriers and shippers to adopt the requirements before it becomes mandatory. Highway carriers are also advised to provide electronic cargo and conveyance data to the agency in advance of arriving at the Canadian border starting November 1, 2012.

The article reports that Port of Oakland will continue night operations even after a Port subsidy expires in June 2016.

The article discusses the cost and influencing factor involved in shipping cotton to Shanghai, China. In 2007, China imported 2.47 million tons of cotton, making the country the largest importer of cotton. The U.S. was the largest exporter of cotton to China with a market share of 458 percent followed by India with market share of 26 percent, the African Franc Zone with market share of 12 percent, Uzbekistan with market share of 9 percent and Australia with market share of 4 percent. The factors that influence the shipment of cotton in China include shipping cost, insurance cost, documentation cost, bank charges, interest cost, and controlling charges.

Offers information on the Maritime Security Program (MSP) subsidy for United States flagships. Provision of funds for U.S. flagships operating internationally; Call for U.S. legislators to improve the program; Carriers' contention that subsidy alone will not necessarily induce companies to volunteer vessels for MSP; Proposed legislation to replace income taxes on ships' earnings with a fixed annual tonnage-based tax.

The article discusses the decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which rejected the pleas of six Hawaiian shippers to end the provisions under the Jones Act from the U.S. Merchant Marine Act. The Hawaiian importers and exporters sued the federal government for pecuniary injury when they purchased domestic ocean cargo shipping services on West Coast-Hawaii routes. The Circuit Court also mentions that the Jones Act does not violate the country's Commerce clause.

The article discusses the challenges face by the shippers in the shipping industry such as the tight capacity and the increase of truck rates for the southbound workload in the U.S.

The article reports on the decision of 13 container and cruise lines at the ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach in California to take part in a clean-fuel subsidy initiative to reduce pollution coming from vessels within 40 miles of the harbor. The vessel operators will start using low-sulfur fuel in the main engines. The subsidy makes up the difference between the cost for low-sulfur fuel and the usual bunker fuel. Noted is the possibility that the sulfur oxide emission from vessels in Southern California will decrease by 11 percent.

This section offers news briefs in the U.S. shipping industry. The Customs and Border Protection launched a pilot program with China to validate importers under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Lawmakers adjourned without approving a proposed per-container fee to fund transportation infrastructure in Washington State. An incentive program was approved by harbor commissions in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California to subsidize the use of low-sulfur fuel in vessels' main engines within 40 miles of the coast.

The author talks about the status of the trade community system as of January 2008. In the inauguration of the JoC Container Transport Investment Conference held in New York, ports are seen as an extension of the private sector and are expected to be able to sustain themselves. Jeffrey Holt from Goldman Sachs expects that subsidies will soon disappear and shippers and carriers will be shouldering the costs.

Discusses the Maritime Security Program (MSP) to subsidize U.S.-flag ships. Reason for its implementation: Percentage number of ships that will be subsidized; Effectivity date of the MSP; Per-ship subsidies for the fiscal year 2006-2008; Ships covered by MSP.

Discusses the decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to delay its interim ruling on the legality of an American export subsidy. Details of America's foreign sales corporation tax code; Arbitration on the issue; Response from the United States.

Reports that a House subcommittee, with the blessing of the Transportation Department, has begun a new effort to resuscitate the American shipping industry. Efforts to aid American shipyards and shipping lines which died in the Senate in 1994; Details of HR 1350 which was approved by the House National Security Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine on May 17, 1995.

Advises the end-of-session tactics in the Senate killed a bill to renew subsidies for United States shipping lines. Details on the measure (HR 4003); Sponsors' goal to halt the long decline in American shipping power; What bill would have overhauled.

Advises that on September 23, 1994, Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S. Dak.) stopped the Senate Commerce Committee from marking up the House-passed bill (HR 4003), delaying Congressional efforts to revitalize United States shipping lines and shipyards. The bill would establish $100 million in annual subsidies for shipping lines and reauthorize the Maritime Administration. Pressler's main complaint about the measure.

Discusses how the House passed a bill (HR4003) on August 2, 1994 that would impose a $1.35 billion tax increase on cargo and cruise vessels over 10 years. How money would pay for subsidies to support United States shipping lines and shipyards; Number of ships that currently receive subsidies; Opposition of any direct aid to shipyards by Clinton administration; Details of Studds-Fields amendment; Loan-guarantee program.

States that Transportation Secretary Federico F. Pena on March 10, 1994 unveiled a proposal backed by President Bill Clinton to provide new subsidies for United States shipping lines, less than a year after the administration decided against them. Specifics of the proposal (HR 4003); How the administration's about-face came about; Why plan may run into opposition.

Reveals that the Clinton administration has decided to support a new subsidy program for the United States merchant fleet. Amount of subsidies over 10 years; House Merchant Marine Committee proposed a program twice the size in HR 2151, its bill to revitalize the US maritime industry; Gerry E. Studds (D-Mass.) put the bill on hold at the White House's request; The administration's proposal to aid US shipyards.

Details the House approval of a bill (HR 2056), on May 13, 1992, which would levy penalties on ships that are built or repaired using subsidies from foreign governments. The measure's repealment of a 1990 Coast Guard tax on recreational boats; The debate on how the penalties would impact negotiations with other countries over shipbuilding subsidies; Bush administration threat to veto the legislation; More.

The article reports that the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Advancement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) program has received a federal grant from U.S. Department of Transportation.

Reports on the moves of the European Union (EU) and Australia to extend the subsidies paid to their yards following the United States' failure to ratify the Organization of Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) agreement. Majority view in EU's Council of Industry Ministers' meeting that for the time being subsidies cannot be abolished; Review of subsidies.

Focuses on the tax break scheme introduced by the French government to boost the country's shipping sector. Subsidies in shipbuilding approved under the scheme; Importance of the scheme to the industry's competition with the Far Eastern market; Impact of the scheme to shipyards. INSET: Geared for growth..

The article reports that the World Trade Organization (WTO) trade talks has received an increased on their own trade-distorting subsidies between $13 to 16.4 billion per year in the U.S. Crawford Falconer, the chair of agricultural talks in the Doha round, stated that the country has never accepted below $23 billion cap before. Koe Glauber, country's farm trade negotiator, inferred that the range adoption is contingent on other countries based from the tariff cuts on farm products.

Reports that the Japan Association of Ship Scrapping Promotion has received applications to scrap several ships for subsidies as of May 1997.

Reports that the Clinton administration has filed a plan to revamp the United States' maritime subsidy program. National defense rationale of the subsidy program; Details of legislation proposed by Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena.