NETHERLANDS ANTILLES TO IMPOSE FREIGHT TAX
The Netherlands Antilles government plans to implement a tax of as much as
5 percent on ocean freight and port services starting Sept. 1.
The tax will be paid initially by carriers, who are expected to bill the
cost back to shippers by way of a rate hike.
The Baltic and International Maritime Council, which represents numerous
carriers and ship agents in the Caribbean, has issued opposition to the tax, which BIMCO
says was imposed without adequate notice. Many carrier contracts that were finalized prior
to the change have not addressed the issue, the industry group said.