[China Begins Clamping Down on Foreign Shipping Companies]

Chena’s Ministry of Communications and the State Industrial and
Commercial Bureau have jointly issued a four-point notice strengthening
and refining terms for the long-term offices of foreign shipping
companies in China. It stipulates that no companies using words including
“seaborne trade,” “shipping,” “ship agent,” “ship”and/or “port
affairs,” among others, may set up long-term offices without first being
approved by the ministry. Any such offices set up before October 10 must
apply to the ministry for registration, the notice said. The notice also
lists activities considered illegal. These include canvassing and
acceping space booking, opening operational accounts and accepting
freight, signing bills of lading or multimodal transport bills, and
signing service contracts with clients on behalf of a parent company.