Last month, I participated in the inaugural Crossroads of the World – International Trade Summit, held in Salt Lake City, Utah. I would like to thank the Utah Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to participate in the conference. It was an honor to have shared the stage with former U.S. President George W. Bush, former President of Mexico Vicente Fox, and former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, three of the many illustrious conference participants.
Despite being hundreds of miles from the southern California port gateways, Utah holds a special place within our national supply chain system. It is a state that is globally connected and embraces international trade. Its people and businesses are extremely aware of how the supply chain services their economy and the impacts when supply chains are disrupted. During the pandemic, Utahans experienced how even the slightest delay at seaports had a rippling effect on their economy.
The Crossroads Summit was a testament to how seriously Utah takes its role in global commerce. Executives in the public and private sectors recognize the benefits supply chain technology can provide in achieving greater transparency and reliability of freight transportation.
I appreciated the opportunity to discuss the scope of the second Request for Information related to the Maritime Transportation Data Initiative which was released earlier this spring. Comments are due June 17th,2024. It provided context in how regions and specifically inland states are and will be impacted by better organized and accountable international shipping operational and information sharing practices.
In addition to my conference participation, I also toured the Utah Inland Port and the rail terminals that are servicing the growing Utah population.
Carl W. Bentzel is a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed here are his own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Commission.