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As the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) proceeds, shipping containers idle on train tracks downtown in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on April 7, 2020. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Reuters, WASHINGTON, July 8 – A source familiar with the proposal told Reuters on Thursday that President Joe Biden will issue an order to U.S. transportation agencies in the coming days to address competition in rail and sea shipping in an effort to reduce the prices of carrying goods for businesses. According to the source, Biden’s executive order, which targets the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and the Surface Transportation Board (STB), is also targeted at lowering consumer prices in the long run. The order will ask the STB to explore long-standing measures to improve competition in monopolized railroads, such as so-called “competitive switching rules,” which force a monopoly railway to give access to its train under particular situations. It also calls on FMC to “take all necessary efforts to defend American exporters from the excessive expenses imposed by ocean carriers,” as well as “crack down on unjust and unjustified surcharges, such as detention and demurrage charges.” Biden’s executive order, which will address competition throughout the US economy first, is expected to be released as early as Friday and will include provisions such as making it easier for farmers to repair their own tractors and new rules requiring airlines to refund baggage fees for delayed luggage. The intended executive order was first revealed by Reuters last week, but the White House has continued to roll out new proposals in recent days. During the COVID-19 epidemic, transportation costs for moving goods have continued to rise at a time when transportation businesses are consolidating. The upcoming executive order would “encourages the independent federal agencies that regulate these markets to take actions to foster competition, lowering shipping costs for American businesses. As a result, American shoppers will see decreased pricing “According to the source. Noncompete agreements for workers, licensing requirements, Defense contracts, cell phones, agribusiness, and antitrust enforcement will all be addressed in Biden’s executive order. find out more David Shepardson contributed reporting, Susan Heavey wrote the story, and Alex Richardson, Mark Heinrich, and Kirsten Donovan edited it. The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles are our standards./nRead More

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