U.S./AUSTRALIA CARRIERS TO IMPOSE CHARGE ON PAPER SED’S

U.S./AUSTRALIA CARRIERS TO IMPOSE CHARGE ON PAPER SED’S    Seven conference and non-conference carriers in the U.S./Australia/New Zealand trade have announced that they will start imposing a $100 surcharge from early next month for shippers who send paper Shipper’s Export Declarations.
   The United States Australia Agreement said that it will levy the surcharge from Nov. 6. “All customers are encouraged to utilize the Automated Export System,” a spokesman for the conference said.
   The carriers of the United States Australia Agreement are Australia-New Zealand Direct Line, Columbus Line, CMA CGM, Contship Containerlines, P&O Nedlloyd and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
   FESCO, a non-conference carrier in the U.S./Australasia trade, said that it will impose the $100 charge for paper SEDs, effective Nov. 1.
   The $100 charge was agreed between U.S. Customs and ocean carriers and is aimed at encouraging shippers to submit export declarations electronically through the Automated Export System.
   Other carriers and conferences have announced the imposition of the charge.