Exporters of red meat from the U.S. to overseas markets are continuing to be frustrated by continued port congestion and a shortage of shipping containers. U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Joe Schuele says following earlier improvement in shipping, that problem has now resurfaced.

He says due to port congestion, and to find alternative ports for shipping, some companies have taken an indirect route to their markets.

Schuele says one of the legislative fixes US MEF is looking at is South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 legislation. He says that helps address demurrage fee issues.

He says the legislation also would incentivize shippers to make sure cargo they’re returning to China isn’t empty but is full of some type of cargo thus addressing the empty container issue.