Greg Knowler, of maritimeprofessional.com reports, “Whenever there is uncertainty in a particular trade, the container lines resolutely stick with the “shipper pays” principle. That’s understandable considering the state of the industry, but not exactly fair on their customers”.

For the last couple of decades shippers have been complaining that the host of extras they are charged – more than 100, according to the HK Shippers’ Council – should be built into the freight rates that are negotiated between them and the lines.

From this month [August 2013] there will be another charge levied – a six percent VAT charge on top of all charges payable in China, according to Lloyd’s List. Many of the major carriers have informed their customers, but the news has not been received with much enthusiasm.

China is changing its tax system from a turnover tax on companies’ gross revenue to a VAT, which is levied on the difference between a commodity’s pre-tax price and its cost of production.

Beijing rolled out a VAT pilot programme to test the market and iron out the bumps, starting in Shanghai in January last year. In September Beijing was included followed by a gradual nationwide rollout before the new system kicks in tomorrow.

But there is still major uncertainty in this new tax regime, and that is providing great consternation for shippers and the carriers. International shipping is not liable for VAT, so why should carriers impose a six percent VAT levy on customers, asks Sunny Ho of the HK Shippers’ Council.

The problem is that international container lines are not sure whether they are exempt from VAT or not. All the carriers have China offices and as that is where the billing of mainland shippers originates, so they fear Beijing may treat them as agents instead of international shipping services, which means their business will be eligible for the tax.

Maersk Line has decided to wait until mid-August before levying the six percent VAT on mainland charges to see how the situation unfolds. That is a welcome gesture and one that should be followed by all the international shipping lines.

With so much uncertainty surrounding the nationwide rollout of the new tax regime, how can carriers justify slapping customers with a VAT levy before the actual impact of that VAT can be measured?

It is a grasping approach that the lines instinctively default to when faced with the possibility of rising costs. It may serve to protect the bottom line, but it continues to reinforce the traditional unhealthy and antagonistic relationship between them and their customers.

The lines should wait until the costs of China’s VAT have been established and those costs should then be built into the freight rates. Surely that is the only reasonable approach. Source: www.maritimeprofessional.com