525 S. Douglas St. , #100• El Segundo, CA 90245 • (310) 607-8000
The delays that customers experience in light of congestion and capacity changes are one of the most important factors facing us at Coppersmith Global Logistics. We have had several customers and domestic agents ask for our help to find chassis, even if shipments are booked at carrier door delivery because the equipment is so tight. What has resulted is that in addition to the higher rates, the carriers are charging demurrage for containers that remain on their docks, even if they are not available. The FMC has been looking into these unfair trade practices, but there have been neither penalties enforced nor refunds given by the carriers. 

It’s during these difficult times that it’s important to have the support of Coppersmith Global Logistics in your corner. We are working diligently on ensuring we can advise on equipment and routing to prevent delays in your shipment. It’s our mission to work on your behalf to try and prevent these issues from causing disruption in your supply chain.
WEST COAST IMPORT SURGE ROCKS ON SETTING RECORDS
The Port of Los Angeles banked the busiest September ever as they processed 883,625 TEU, a 13.3% rise over the September numbers from 2019. Hot on the heels of those numbers, the third quarter is the best quarter on record in the 114 years of operation as 2,701,847 TEUs were handled from July through September of 2020.Currently we see that no sailings have been cancelled during September, when 97 cargo vessels were serviced at the port.
E-COMMERCE UNDER CBP SCRUTINY OVER COUNERFEIT SALES
Online sales are the target of increased scrutiny as the U.S. President issued a memorandum to the Department of Homeland Security to try and stop the importation and sale of counterfeit goods that are traded across sales platforms via e-commerce.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection is asked to consider (1) seizing counterfeit goods imported in connection with a transaction on an e-commerce platform and (2) imposing the maximum allowable fines and civil penalties on any e-commerce platform that directs, assists with, or is in any way concerned in the importation of counterfeit goods." 
NEWS FROM COPPERSMITH
HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL (& COPPERSMITH) SAVE 170 DOGS FROM KOREAN MEAT FARM
The dog meat trade in Korea is rapidly falling out of fashion and some farmers are looking to the Humane Society International to help them transition into a new occupation. Last Friday, Coppersmith worked with HSI to rescue and import 170 dogs from a farm in South Korea where the trade is a dying industry. Rescuers spent two weeks in quarantine in Korea before they could enter the nation and take possession of the dogs and transport them back to the United States where they’ll be housed and treated for any medical issues in Washington DC before moving to shelters in Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to find forever homes.
The Humane Society International is working with the farmers to help them find a new way to live because the dog meat trade is unsustainable as more Korean families are keeping dogs as pets which makes their consumption unpalatable. Eighty percent of Koreans don’t or won’t eat the meat and 60% of Koreans support a total ban on the meat. You can support the Humane Society in their mission to eradicate the inhumane conditions of animals around the world by clicking the button below. 
Containers are sold out, container space is sold out, ships are sold out of space, and the logistics boom is upon us with the holiday shopping season looming on the calendar horizon.
The trans-Pacific trade lane is almost non-stop as representatives from ONE state that they're sold out of space and looking for ways to mitigate the bottleneck issues that follow such a tight shipping market. Equipment, staff, port capacity and the area infrastructure is key to keeping the flow of goods moving in and out as peak season roars on through the end of the year with no signs of slowing down.
The European Shipper's Council is irate with carriers as the November schedules and rates released show more blanked sailings and higher rates despite lower fuel costs and the expectation of more capacity in the European market.
"Current market rules adopted by shipping lines during the pandemic don't follow the logic of framing a common playing field for all stakeholders, since they change and adapt as to benefit only one part." Says Jordi Espin, the ESC policy manager maritime transport who spoke to Container News. You can read his full thoughts and the entire article at the link below.
The United States Trade Representative announced a Section 301 investigation into
Vietnam, based on two issues, including
the purposeful devaluation of the Vietnamese currency to spur exports by manipulating
the exchange rate and the use of illegally harvested wood that is used in Vietnam's furniture industry. Written comments regarding this issue can be sent in before November 12, 2020.
Intermodal equipment providers everywhere have issued a critical warning that chassis shortages in Southern California will persist into next year, as restocking inventory and holiday shipments are flooding into the U.S. West Coast in hopes they'll reach holiday shelves in time for the Christmas shopping season and keep shelves stocked through the Chinese Lunar New Year of 2021.
Due to unprecedented equipment shortages in China, new pickup charges are being levied to try and balance the inventory at ports across the nation. Some carriers have determined that containers cannot be picked up any earlier than eight days before the sailing date and repositioned equipment from Europe and Asian locations are scheduled at the link below for your review.