Category Archives: Gemini News

Gemini Announces Opposition to Border Adjustment Tax Even as Trump/House Republicans Continue to Push It

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House Republicans continue to push the Border Adjustment Tax (BAT) as part of their “A Better Way” corporate tax reform proposal. Recently, President Donald Trump has made cryptic signals of support, although Trump’s Press Secretary has conflated the BAT with a border tariff in describing Trump’s support. Under the House Republican proposal, corporate tax rates would drop from 37.5 percent to 20 percent. However, to help cover the loss in revenue, the House proposal would also impose a Border Adjustment Tax. Under BAT (BAT Explained – Example 1, Example 2), imported materials and products would no longer be allowed to be deducted as part of a company’s Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). As a result, with 99 percent of fashion accessories sold in the United States being imported, a fashion accessories company’s tax base would increase dramatically under the proposal, even as the tax rate they pay on that base declines. For many companies, that means the resulting tax bill would be 3-4 times their current tax bill, in many cases, more than their profit (estimate your new tax here). As a result, FASA/Gemini has joined large swaths of the U.S. business community in the new Affordable Products Coalition to strongly oppose the BAT proposal. Congress is expected to consider corporate tax reform later this year. We need you! to speak up. Click here to tell your members of Congress to oppose the BAT proposal.

 

 

Holiday Schedule

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Dear Member,

The Gemini offices will close at noon on Friday December 23rd and be closed December 26th
reopening on Tuesday December 27th.

The Gemini offices will Close at noon on Friday December 30th and be closed January 2nd
reopening on Tuesday January 3rd.

Wishing You and Your Family a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Sara Mayes
President
Gemini Shippers Group/FASA

Thanksgiving Holiday

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Happy-Thanksgiving-Images

The Gemini Team would like to wish you, your families, and loved ones a happy Thanksgiving Holiday.

The Gemini Shippers Group office will be closed on Thursday November 24th and Friday November 25th.

As always thanks for your support of the Gemini Shippers Group.

Sara Mayes
President / CEO

THE Alliance announces plans for its competitive product

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Members,
Following  news released last week on the OCEANS Alliance, members of THE Alliance (Hapag-Lloyd, “K”Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Yang Ming) today announced the  details of their new service offering set to start operations in April  2017.  For a review of the carrier makeup of each of the new alliances please click here.  Details of THE Alliance product can be found below.

THE Alliance announces plans for its competitive product

31 services covering all East West trade lanes with short transit times / Fast shuttle services / Dedicated Middle East loop / 240 modern and most efficient ships / Comprehensive port coverage with over 75 ports in Asia, North Europe, the Mediterranean, North America and the Middle East

The members of THE Alliance announced today the details of the plan for their product starting from April 2017. THE Alliance plans to deploy a fleet of more than 240 modern ships in the Asia/Europe, North Atlantic and Trans-Pacific trade lanes including the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf/Red Sea. The start of THE Alliance as the most integrated liner shipping consortia is scheduled for April 2017 (subject to completion of all relevant regulatory requirements).

“The product of THE Alliance is a milestone which will significantly improve the service offering for all shippers on the East West trade lanes“, said the member carriers Hapag-Lloyd, “K”Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Yang Ming in a statement.

The product will be characterized by fast transit times, a broad port coverage and deployment of modern and most efficient ships. “Our best ship for the loop principle and dedicated shuttle service design are the basis for one of the most competitive products available in the market”, the member lines said.

The comprehensive network of 31 services would connect more than 75 major ports throughout Asia, North Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Indian Sub Continent and the Middle East with fast transit times and a wide range of direct port-port-connections.

The product of THE Alliance will feature eight services in the Asia/Europe trade including three services covering the important Mediterranean market. One dedicated service will cater for customers in the Middle East, connecting the key ports of China, South Korea and South East Asia with Dammam, Jubail and an Arabian Gulf hub port. 16 joint services will be operated by THE Alliance members on the Trans Pacific trade. Six loops will serve the North Atlantic trade covering a wide range of North European and Mediterranean ports as well as those in the US, Canada and Mexico.

The base-plan port rotations of the total 31 services will be as follows:

Asia and North Europe

FE 1:
Kobe – Nagoya – Shimizu – Tokyo – South East Asia Hub – Jeddah – Rotterdam – Hamburg – UK – Le Havre – South East Asia Hub – Kobe

FE 2:
Xingang – Dalian – Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – South China/Hong Kong – South East Asia Hub – West Med Hub – UK – Hamburg – Rotterdam – Le Havre – West Med Hub – Arabian Gulf Hub – South China/Hong Kong – Qingdao – Xingang

FE 3:
South China/Hong Kong – Xiamen – Kaohsiung – South China/Hong Kong – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Antwerp – UK – East Med Hub – South East Asia Hub – South China/Hong Kong

FE 4:
Pusan – Ningbo – Shanghai – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Antwerp – UK – South China/Hong Kong – Pusan
FE 5:
Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – South East Asia Hub – Colombo – Rotterdam – Hamburg – UK – Antwerp – Jeddah – Colombo – South East Asia Hub – Laem Chabang

Asia and the Mediterranean

MD 1:
Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – South China/Hong Kong – South East Asia Hub – East Med Hub – Barcelona – Valencia – Fos – Genoa – East Med Hub – South East Asia Hub – South China/Hong Kong – Qingdao

MD 2:
Pusan – Ningbo – Shanghai – Kaohsiung – South China/Hong Kong – South East Asia Hub – Jeddah – La Spezia – Genoa – Barcelona – Valencia – South East Asia Hub – South China/Hong Kong – Pusan

MD 3:
Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – South China/Hong Kong – South East Asia Hub – Jeddah – East Med Hub – Ashdod – East Med Hub – Istanbul (Ambarli) – Izmir – Mersin – East Med Hub – Jeddah – South East Asia Hub – Kaohsiung – Pusan

Asia and the Middle East

AGX:
Pusan – Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – South China/Hong Kong – South East Asia Hub – Arabian Gulf Hub – Dammam – Jubail – Arabian Gulf Hub – South East Asia Hub – Ningbo – Pusan

Trans Pacific – West Coast

PN 1:
Qingdao – Shanghai – Nagoya – Tokyo – Pacific North-West (US) – Pacific North-West (CA) – Tokyo – Nagoya – Kobe – Qingdao

PN 2:
South East Asia Hub – Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – South China/Hong Kong – Xiamen – Kaohsiung – Pacific North-West (CA/US) – Pacific North-West (CA/US) – Tokyo – Kobe – Kaohsiung – South East Asia Hub

PN 3:
South China/Hong Kong – Ningbo – Shanghai – Pusan – Pacific North-West (CA) – Pacific North-West (US) – Pusan – South China/Hong Kong

PS 1:
Kobe – Nagoya – Tokyo – Sendai – Pacific South-West (US) – Tokyo – Nagoya – Kobe

PS 2:
Kobe – Nagoya – Shimizu – Tokyo – Pacific South-West (US) – Tokyo – Kobe

PS 3:
South East Asia Hub – Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – South China/Hong Kong – Pacific South-West (US) – Tokyo – South China/Hong Kong – South East Asia Hub

PS 4:
South China/Hong Kong – Kaohsiung – Keelung – Pacific South-West (US) – Keelung – Kaohsiung – South China/Hong Kong

PS 5:
Shanghai – Ningbo – Pacific South-West (US) – Shanghai

PS 6:
Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai – Pusan – Pacific South-West (US) – Pusan – Qingdao

PS 7:
Xiamen – South China/Hong Kong – Pacific South-West (US) – Xiamen

PS 8:
Dalian – Xingang – Qingdao – Pusan – Pacific South-West (US) – Pusan – Dalian

Trans Pacific – East Coast (via Panama and Suez)

EC 1:
Ningbo – Shanghai – Pusan – Tokyo – (Panama Canal) – Caribbean Hub – South Atlantic (US) – Norfolk – Miami (Seasonal) – Caribbean Hub – (Panama Canal) – Balboa – Pacific South-West (US) – Tokyo – Kobe – Ningbo

EC 2:
Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai – Pusan – (Panama Canal) – New York – Boston – South Atlantic (US) – (Panama Canal) – Pusan – Qingdao

EC 3:
Kaohsiung – Xiamen – South China/Hong Kong – Shanghai – (Panama Canal) – South Atlantic (US) – Norfolk – (Panama Canal) – Balboa – Pusan – Kaohsiung

EC 4:
Kaohsiung – South China/Hong Kong – Cai Mep – South East Asia Hub – (Suez Canal) – New York – Norfolk – South Atlantic (US) – (Suez Canal) – South East Asia Hub – Kaohsiung

EC 5:
Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – South East Asia Hub – Colombo – (Suez Canal) – Halifax – New York – South Atlantic (US) – Norfolk – Halifax – (Suez Canal) – Arabian Gulf Hub – South East Asia Hub – Laem Chabang

Trans Atlantic

AL 1:
Bremerhaven – Antwerp – UK – Norfolk – Philadelphia – New York – Halifax – Bremerhaven

AL 2:
UK – Le Havre – Rotterdam – Bremerhaven – New York – South Atlantic (US) – UK

AL 3:
Antwerp – Bremerhaven – UK – South Atlantic (US) – Port Everglades – Houston – South Atlantic (US) – Norfolk – Antwerp

AL 4:
UK – Antwerp – Bremerhaven – Le Havre – Veracruz – Altamira – Houston – New Orleans – Mobile – UK

AL 5:
UK – Rotterdam – Bremerhaven – Antwerp – Le Havre – South Atlantic (US) – Caribbean Hub – Pacific South-West (US) – Pacific North-West (US) – Pacific North-West (CA) – Pacific South-West (US) – Balboa – Caribbean Hub – South Atlantic (US) – UK

AL 6:
Livorno – La Spezia – Genoa – Fos – Barcelona – Valencia – West Med Hub – Halifax – New York – Norfolk – South Atlantic (US) – West Med Hub – Valencia – Livorno

The service network of THE Alliance is expected to cover more than 24 ports in Asia including ten Chinese and five Japanese ports with direct calls as well as 20 ports in the US and Canada, six North European and 13 Mediterranean ports, six ports in the Middle East and six ports in Central America/Caribbean.

Through this robust network, THE Alliance will offer a superior, reliable, efficient, and wide ranging product suite to shippers in the East/West lanes. The partners of THE Alliance will keep the market informed about further steps and the final, more precise service rotations.
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We will continue to update members as we lean more about each of the Alliances and their product offerings.  Please contact the Gemini team with any question you may have.

Best regards,
Gemini Shippers Group.

FASA Takes Action On Notorious Markets

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FASA Takes Action On Notorious Markets

On October 26, FASA signed on to a letter with 16 international trade associations and one labor group urging the USTR to label Alibaba a “notorious market” as part of an annual review that identifies online and  physical markets that facilitate the sale of counterfeit products. The letter identifies a series of metrics that Alibaba was supposed to have executed, but didn’t undertake, in order to remove counterfeit articles from its site. The USTR is expected to make a decision by mid-December.

OCEAN Alliance Sets out Network

By | Gemini News, Industry News, Public News | No Comments

Members,
The first of many upcoming changes to the Carrier Alliance landscape was announced today with the  publication of the new service offering of the OCEAN Alliance.  For a review of the carrier makeup of each of the alliances please click here.    A link to access details of the Ocean Alliance is noted below.

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OCEAN Alliance Sets Out Network
(Shanghai) – Members of the OCEAN Alliance, COSCO Container Lines, CMA CGM, Evergreen Line and Orient Overseas Container Line, today signed a document entitled the Day One Product, which sets out the proposed OCEAN Alliance’s network, including port rotation for each service loop.

The Day One network intends to deploy around 350 container vessels with an estimated total carrying capacity of 3.5 million TEUs to provide one of the most comprehensive service coverage in the market on the following trade lanes. The vessel deployment details for each service loop will be released around end of this November.

• 20 Transpacific services (estimated 160 port pairs, with 13 Asia – West Coast North America services, 7 Asia – East Coast North America and U.S. Gulf services)
• 6 Asia – Europe services (estimated 110 port pairs)
• 5 Asia – Mediterranean services (estimated 165 port pairs)
• 3 Transatlantic services (estimated 70 port pairs)
• 5 Asia – Middle East services (estimated 70 port pairs)
• 2 Asia – Red Sea services (estimated 35 port pairs)

The top priority of the OCEAN Alliance is service quality and schedule reliability. Customers will benefit from a competitive selection of sailing schedules and direct port pairs, fast transit times, and a highly efficient fleet of vessels to cater to the needs of today’s demanding and increasingly green global supply chains.  “The signing of the Day One Product marks an important step forward to show just how committed we are in developing the most competitive products to market and the high level of synergy and confidence we share in the partnership,” member carriers said in a statement.

At this time, the members of the OCEAN Alliance are pleased to inform that they have filed the Master Agreement (Alliance Agreement) to Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China and that the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) have expressed approval of the OCEAN Alliance. The OCEAN Alliance has also completed its EU self-assessment compliance review. The OCEAN Alliance is satisfied that its agreement and services are compliant with EU regulatory requirements, following satisfactory completion of a self-assessment of its activities under EU competition rules and discussions with the EU Commission.

Moving forward, the OCEAN Alliance will continue to work closely with all the authorities to ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations and secure the necessary regulatory approvals for the OCEAN Alliance to commence operations from April 1st 2017.

A full list of the services is noted below and a detailed review and route maps of OCEAN Alliance services can be accessed here.

DAY ONE Product:
20 Transpacific services (with 13 Asia – West Coast North America services):
9 Pacific Southwest services:
PSW1: Fuqing-Nansha-Hong Kong-Yantian-Xiamen-LGB/LAX-Oakland-Fuqing
PSW2: Tianjin-Qingdao-Shanghai-Prince Rupert-LGB/LAX-Oakland-Tianjin
PSW3: (AWE3)-Port Kelang-Singapore-Jakarta-Laem Chabang-Cai Mep-LGB/LAX-Oakland
-Hong Kong -(AWE3)
PSW4: Lianyungang-Shanghai-Ningbo-LGB/LAX-Seattle- Lianyungang
PSW5: Qingdao-Shanghai-Ningbo-LGB/LAX-Oakland-Tokyo-Nagoya-Qingdao
PSW6: Kaohsiung-Cai Mep-Chiwan-Hong Kong-Yantian-Kaohsiung-LGB/LAX- Kaohsiung
PSW7: Taipei-Xiamen-Shekou-Yantian-LGB/LAX-Oakland-Taipei
PSW8: Yantian-Hong Kong-Kaohsiung-Taipei-LGB/LAX-Oakland-Tacoma- Kaohsiung -Yantian
PSW9: Ningbo-Shanghai-Pusan-LGB/LAX-Pusan-Ningbo
4 Pacific Northwest services:
PNW1: Yantian-Xiamen-Ningbo-Shanghai-Pusan-Seattle-Vancouver-Yokohama-Yantian
PNW2: (AWE1)-Singapore-Cai Mep-Hong Kong –Yantian-Shanghai-Ningbo-Prince Rupert-Vancouver-Qingdao-(AWE1)
PNW3: Hong Kong-Yantian-Kaohsiung-Shanghai-Ningbo-Tacoma-Vancouver-Tokyo-
Osaka-Qingdao-Hong Kong
PNW4: Chiwan-Hong Kong –Yantian-Kaohsiung-Vancouver-Seattle-Pusan-Kaohsiung-Chiwan
7 Asia – East Coast North America and U.S. Gulf services:
AWE1: (PNW2)-Qingdao-Ningbo-Shanghai-Pusan-New York-Boston-Norfolk-Singapore-(PNW2)
AWE2: Xiamen-Kaohsiung-Hong Kong-Yantian-Colon-New York-Baltimore-Norfolk-Xiamen
AWE3: (PSW3)-Hong Kong-Cai Mep-Singapore-Port Kelang-Colombo-Halifax-New York-Norfolk-Savannah-Port Kelang -(PSW3)
AWE4: Qingdao-Ningbo-Shanghai-Pusan-Colon-Savannah-Charleston-New York-Colon-Qingdao
AWE5: Hong Kong-Yantian-Ningbo-Shanghai-Colon-Norfolk-Savannah-Charleston-Hong Kong
AWE6: Hong Kong-Chiwan-Ningbo-Shanghai-Pusan-Houston-Mobile-Miami-Jacksonville-Singapore-Hong Kong
AWE7: Shanghai-Ningbo-Xiamen-Yantian-Houston-Mobile-Shanghai
6 Asia – Europe services:
NEU1: Shanghai-Ningbo-Xiamen-Yantian-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Felixstowe-Rotterdam-Baltic Port(s)*-Felixstowe-SUEZ Canal-SEA HUB-Yantian-Shanghai
NEU2: Tianjin-Dalian-Qingdao-Shanghai-Ningbo-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Rotterdam-Hamburg-
Antwerp-SUEZ Canal-Shanghai-Tianjin
NEU3: Ningbo-Shanghai-Hong Kong-Nansha-Shekou-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Piraeus-Antwerp-
Felixstowe-Hamburg-Rotterdam-Southampton*-Piraeus-SUEZ Canal-SEA HUB-Hong Kong-Ningbo
NEU4: Tianjin-Pusan-Qingdao-Shanghai-Ningbo-Yantian-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Tangier-Southampton-
Dunkirk-Hamburg-Rotterdam-Zeebrugge-Le Havre-SUEZ Canal-Khor Fakkan-SEA HUB-Xiamen-Tianjin
NEU5: Shanghai-Ningbo-Yantian-Cai Mep-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Le Havre-Rotterdam-Hamburg-
Antwerp-Le Havre-Malta-SUEZ Canal-Jeddah-Nansha-Shanghai
NEU6: Kaohsiung-Ningbo-Shanghai-Taipei-Yantian-Colombo-SUEZ Canal-Rotterdam-Felixstowe-
Hamburg-Rotterdam-SUEZ Canal-Colombo-Kaohsiung
5 Asia – Mediterranean services:
MED1: Qingdao-Shanghai-Ningbo-Kaohsiung-Hong Kong-Yantian-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Piraeus-La Spezia-Genoa-Fos-Valencia-Piraeus -SUEZ Canal-Jeddah-Colombo-SEA HUB-Hong Kong-Qingdao
MED2:Qingdao-Pusan-Shanghai-Ningbo-Xiamen-Nansha-Yantian-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Malta-Valencia-Barcelona-Fos-Genoa-Malta -Beirut-SUEZ Canal-Jebel Ali-SEA HUB-Xiamen-Qingdao
MED3: Pusan-Shanghai-Ningbo-Kaohsiung-Chiwan-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Port Said -Beirut-Iskenderun-Istanbul Evyap (Izmit)-Istanbul Ambarli (Avcilar)-Constanza-Odessa-Istanbul Ambarli (Avcilar) -Piraeus -SUEZ Canal-SEA HUB-Pusan
MED4: Qingdao-Shanghai-Ningbo-Taipei-Yantian-Shekou-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Ashdod-Haifa-Alexandria-Piraeus-SUEZ Canal-Jeddah-SEA HUB-Shekou-Kaohsiung-Qingdao
MED5: Shanghai-Ningbo-Pusan-Chiwan-SEA HUB-SUEZ Canal-Malta-Rijeka-Koper-Trieste -Venice-
Koper -Malta -Damietta -SUEZ Canal-Jeddah-SEA HUB-Chiwan-Shanghai
3 Transatlantic services:
TAT1: Malta-Livorno-Genoa-Fos-Barcelona-Valencia-Lisbon-New York-Norfolk-Savannah-
Miami-Algeciras-Valencia*-Malta
TAT2: Southampton-Antwerp-Rotterdam-Bremerhaven-Le Havre-New York-Norfolk-Savannah-Charleston-Southampton
TAT3: Le Havre-Antwerp-Rotterdam-Bremerhaven-Charleston-Savannah-Miami-Veracruz-Altamira
-Houston-New Orleans-Miami-Le Havre
5 Asia – Middle East services:
MEA1: Tianjin-Dalian -Pusan Shanghai -Ningbo-Chiwan-Singapore-Khor Al Fakkan-Jebel Ali-Bandar Abbas-Sohar -Port Kelang -Singapore –Shekou-Tianjin
MEA2: Qingdao-Shanghai-Ningbo-Chiwan-Singapore-Jebel Ali-Dammam-Jubail-Abu Dhabi-
Singapore-Qingdao
MEA3: Lianyungang-Qingdao-Ningbo-Hong Kong –Shekou-Singapore-Jebel Ali-Bahrain-Dammam-Jubail-Port Kelang- Lianyungang
MEA4: Shanghai-Ningbo-Taipei-Shekou-Tanjung Pelepas-Colombo-Jebel Ali-Bandar Abbas-Port Kelang -Laem Chabang*-Hong Kong-Shanghai
MEA5: Shanghai-Ningbo-Nansha-Singapore-Jebel Ali-Abu Dhabi-Dammam-Singapore-Nansha-Shanghai
2 Asia – Red Sea services:
RES1: Shanghai-Ningbo-Taipei-Xiamen-Shekou-SEA HUB-Jeddah-Sokhna-Aqaba-Jeddah-SEA HUB
-Shanghai
RES2: Shanghai-Ningbo-Chiwan-SEA HUB-Djibouti-Jeddah-Aqaba-Port Sudan-Djibouti-SEA HUB
-Shanghai

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We will continue to update members as we lean more about each of the Alliances and their product offerings.  Please contact the Gemini team with any question you may have.

Best regards,
Gemini Shippers Group.