Usually, when there is a large amount of money of this kind behind a decision to throw penalties, there is more behind the political current than just a Jones Act violation that has its doubts, specifically in the case of $350,000,000.00 worth of fines to all shippers associated with this trade lane. There is no violation in the past that has been this large in monetary value.
Timing of such a penalty comes when US / Chinese relations in trade relations and agreeing to increasing and decreasing allowances of US-made and Chinese-made products.
Why such a halt in the use of a small portion of a railway line that has no long stretch, but rather a very short track capacity? What this line does is, it promotes domestic supply into the US East Coast, specifically in remote regions, where access to seafood is scarce. This link forms an intermodal hub system that responds to the US domestic pricing market for seafood, while increasing supply chain access to consumers in all areas of the East Coast, at an affordable price.
There is a clear picture of political misuse of power by an executive legislative body, that should protect its consumer market and intermodal infrastructure systems. The voice of industry is the key to having economic progress succeed long-term, since it benefits consumers and their citizens, specifically when it comes to food consumption.
The story of the Bayside program is one of a Canadian connector, specific to a short railway track, that forms a hinterland connection used for major seafood value food chains. The difference is public and private interest in the use of the intermodal systems across land and coastlines; one in the public’s interest and the other in the political interest of foreign relations.
The penalty notices were not given with reason. Rather, they were sent to all its affiliates, who were part of the supply chain delivery process, leaving many refrigerated trucking companies to refuse to contract services, as they would not want to receive penalties greater than the value of the cargo.
This has caused many third-party problems in their delivery carriers’ positions of choice and current continuance of contracts.
The clear justification of the penalties in their large numbers were not justified as given to all affiliates, who were part of the supply chain, leaving many refrigerated trucking companies to refuse to move the seafood parcels.
These decisions, impacting trade amongst the major domestic players for public consumption, have been influenced by political foreign trade influence and back door deals involving federal agencies and administrations.
The Canadian Border Services Agency gave no warning, but rather placed all parties on notice with no due process or consultation with industry food suppliers, specifically the Seafood sector. This is clearly a violation with the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution.
