U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, wants results from a federal investigation into ocean shippers. 

Johnson signed a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission from 100 members of Congress. The letter cites reports of shippers favoring foreign imports over American exports. 

Johnson suspects foul play by China. 

“Normally what would happen is China would ship relatively inexpensive consumer goods to America in containers. We would fill those containers up with ag products because we have a large ag surplus – a trade surplus on the ag side – and we’d send the containers back to Asia with grain in them,” Johnson said. “China is paying the ocean shippers to, instead of filling them with grain, to ship them back to Asia empty.” 

The letter asks the Federal Maritime Commission for monthly updates to Congress until the matter is resolved. It also asks for appropriate enforcement actions if the commission finds any wrongdoing. 

South Dakota's two U.S. senators, Republicans John Thune and Mike Rounds, signed a similar letter with other senators earlier this month. The letter described the need for investigative findings as "urgent, especially with record container volumes at the nation’s major ports. These volumes, and the resulting congestion, will only grow as the global economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic." 

The letter to the Federal Maritime Commission from 100 members of Congress