The US apparel and retail industry is keen to encourage the US Senate to consider the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) of 2021 that was approved in the house in December 2021 as it will strengthen the apparel and wider retail supply chain and ensure fairness in the global ocean shipping industry.
Two leading trade bodies of the US, The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and the National Retail Federation (NRF), have shown their support for the US Senate introducing the bill to help end the shipping crisis.
AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar wrote a letter to the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and the republican leader at the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, asking them to vote ‘yes’ on the Garamendi-Johnson Amendment #89 (Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021) to the American COMPETES Act.
The AAFA explains the Garamendi-Johnson Amendment #89 (Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021) will “put in place common sense reforms that will go a long way to ending the current shipping crisis and preventing the next shipping crisis.”
The Garamendi-Johnson Amendment #89 (Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021) will stop unfair late fees – known as detention and demurrage (D&D) charges – charged by ocean carriers. It will require ocean carriers to adhere to minimum service standards that reflect best practices and block ocean carriers from unreasonably declining cargo.
At the same time it will improve data collection and reporting requirements.
The NRF issued a supportive statement from Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French. It states “We appreciate the work of Senators Klobuchar and Thune to expedite this critical legislation and look forward to supporting its swift consideration in the Senate and conference with the House.”
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
