President Trump selected Laura DiBella, a former commerce secretary for the state of Florida, to lead the Federal Maritime Commission.
DiBella takes over as leader of the commission as the maritime regulator plays a more muscular role in shipping.
The FMC regulates international ocean commerce with a focus on container shipping. Congress expanded the commission’s powers in 2022 after retailers and manufacturers complained of unfair business practices during the Covid pandemic when they were charged fees for delays picking up and returning containers that were largely beyond their control.
The commission also is currently investigating how other business practices, such as foreign vessel-flagging and constraints at maritime chokepoints, such as the Suez Canal, threaten U.S. trade flows.
The five-member commission is a bipartisan body. Two of its current commissioners were appointed by Democratic presidents. DiBella is the second Republican appointee. Another Trump nominee, Robert Harvey, an economic-development executive also from Florida, awaits confirmation.
DiBella most recently worked as a consultant and lobbyist. She previously led a Florida economic-development organization and before that she was the executive director for the Florida Harbor Pilots Association, a maritime industry group.
Source: WSJ