Beijing: Ministry of Transportation has announced a new regulation requiring operators of cross-straits container shipping services to file their rates for the record, effective from March 1 in order to prevent vicious pricing competition. The authorities also set up a task force to investigate the situation.
According to the announcement, container shipping service operators of all of the 29 mainland-Taiwan shipping routes should report their rates for export shipments, including transshipments. Reported open price quotation will come into effect from the 30th day after being filed while the "consulted prices" will be effected seven days after being filed.
Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) is the authorised shipping rate filing agency which will offer guidance for rates filing and technical support. It will also compile a list of rates and work out a cross-strait shipping rate index together with Xiamen Shipping Exchange.
Last Month, China Shipowner's Association announced standard reference prices for domestic shipping with the same concern. [04/01/13]
