Cargo Preferences for U.S.-Flag Shipping

Author / Creator

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Resources, Science, and Industry Division

Available as

Online

Summary

Discusses current state of U.S.-flag international fleet, providing overview of three U.S.-flag fleets that are capable of carrying commercial cargo. Provides brief history of P.L. 83-644, the Carg...

Discusses current state of U.S.-flag international fleet, providing overview of three U.S.-flag fleets that are capable of carrying commercial cargo. Provides brief history of P.L. 83-644, the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, which requires that 50 percent of Government-impelled cargoes be carried in privately owned U.S.-flag vessels. Explains motivation behind cargo preference law, discusses issues concerning cost-effectiveness of the program, and reviews attempts to apply cargo preference to U.S. oil trade. Identifies several disparate bills reflecting wide disagreement on the future direction of cargo preference policy.

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