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Vietnam looks to end unfair shipping fees: Report
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has ordered concerned ministries to take “strong measures” to prevent foreign shipping lines from imposing unreasonable surcharges on local companies.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance have been asked to review their policies regarding shipping fees, news website VnExpress reported Saturday.
Hai also ordered the Ministry of Transport to prepare plans for developing the local sea transport industry over the next 10 years. The ministry also needs to study measures to prevent congestion at Vietnamese sea ports, he added.
The order came after the Ministry of Transport submitted a report to the government late last month, confirming allegations that foreign shipping lines were imposing unfair surcharges on Vietnamese traders.
Foreign shipping lines have taken advantage of the country’s underdeveloped transportation industry to unreasonably collect at least 10 different fees from local customers, the report said.
According to the Ministry of Transport, Vietnam needs a strong container ship fleet to compete with foreign lines. The country’s fleet of 36 container vessels, mainly owned by Vietnam National Shipping Lines, can only meet 20 percent of current transportation demand.
Thanh Nien
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