Terminal Handling Charge Shippers’ Perspective

Background• In late 1991, Asia North America Eastbound Agreement(ANERA) also imposed THC for all container shipments.Other rate and discussion agreements adopted the THCand extended its imposition across Asia.• ANERA (which was now replaced by TranspacificStabilization Agreement serving US-Asia trade) andIntra-Asia Discussion Agreement (IADA), serving intra-Asia trade, continue to charge the THC. Since then, THChas become a conventional charge of shipping lines andhas steadily increased over the years.• Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (PSB) had sought a dialoguebetween shippers and liners (IADA, TSA, and FEFC) inManila early last year but has never come up with adefinite agreement.3