Ag Alert. November 9, 2022

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wait times to load agricultural contain- ers onto chassis, equipment used to carry containers via trucks traveling between warehouses and ports. The Port of Oakland session also drew representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California State Transportation Agency and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The hear- ing was led by Reps. Jim Costa, D-Fresno;

Mike Thompson, D-Napa; Barbara Lee, D-Oakland; and Garamendi . “It’s completely unacceptable how California agriculture is being treated in re- gards to getting their products to consum- ers,” Thompson said after the roundtable. “What you saw today was a commitment by all the members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state de- partment of agriculture and the (Maritime) Commission to ensure that we improve the situation.”

Bettencourt said she stressed in her presentation at the gathering that “the emphasis has to be on protecting not only our agricultural community but also the position of America in the world. “We’re still dealing with the repercus- sions” of the supply-chain crisis, she said. “And we need to get creative.” (Peter Hecht is chief editor of publications for the California Farm Bureau. He may be contacted at phecht@cfbf.com.)

farm exporters remains a problem. But he said the situation is improving, and port delays are “down substantially.” “We’ve expanded our audit program to promote exporters, and many of the ma- jor carriers have adopted comprehensive export strategies,” Maffei said. “Certainly, willingness to meet agricultural exporters halfway is much more prevalent in the in- dustry now than it was two years ago.” Joining members of Congress after the event, Maffei said, “The battle has been engaged. We need to restore balance.” He added, “It shouldn’t be a compe- tition between importers and exporters. Importers means more ships coming into the Port of Oakland and other ports in the United States. And that means more space. That space must be used by exporters fair- ly, and that’s what we’re going to do.” In June, President Joe Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, legislation intended to help solve port congestion and shipping challenges. Among its provisions, the legislation seeks to speed movement of agricultural and other exports by requiring internation- al ocean carriers to report to the Federal Maritime Commission on how many emp- ty containers are being transported. The legislation also aims to curb rising shipping fees, including demurrage and detention charges, after shipping costs in- creased by more than 40% since last year. Bettencourt said some almond export- ers who spoke at the hearing “provided real-life examples of how we’re still getting rolled” by delays while trying to get prod- uct onto ships. She pointed to excessive

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see if it is hazardous. If it is hazardous to human health or the environment, it can- not be used in the EU. They are not calcu- lating exposure; the EU does not do a full risk assessment.” Recently, the EU has begun applying this strict standard to entirely withdraw MRLs of some materials that are permitted in most of the world. Under World Trade Organization rules, nations can only restrict MRLs for reasons of human health. But the EU is challenging that interpretation, Oliveira said. “Neonicotinoids were banned for use in the European Union to protect bees,” Oliveira said. “In July, they moved toward restricting MRLs for some neonicotinoids, clothianidin and thiamethoxam.” Such decisions often have interna- tional consequences. “Regulatory changes that are estab- lished by the EU are often followed by other markets,” Oliveira said. “Whatever is established in Brussels is followed else- where, especially in developing countries.” (Bob Johnson is a reporter in Monterey County. He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.)

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November 9, 2022 Ag Alert 9