Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025

The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 authorizes specific appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for fiscal years 2026 through 2029, with funding increasing annually. It refines the FMC's stated purposes, clarifying its focus on the common carriage of goods by water in foreign commerce, and expands the definition of "controlled carrier" to include those linked to nonmarket economy countries or countries subject to trade monitoring. A key provision grants the FMC new authority to investigate complaints of market manipulation or anticompetitive practices by registered shipping exchanges, requiring the Commission to report findings to Congress. The bill also streamlines data collection by limiting duplication of information already submitted to other federal agencies and establishes a policy for the nondisclosure of information developed during FMC investigations unless approved by a majority vote. To enhance industry engagement, the bill establishes two new advisory committees: the National Port Advisory Committee and the National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee . These committees, alongside the existing National Shipper Advisory Committee, will advise the FMC on policies related to the competitiveness, reliability, and efficiency of the international ocean freight delivery system. The FMC's annual report requirements are expanded to include analyses of trade imbalances and findings from its audit program, and the Commission is mandated to initiate rulemaking for price indexes for containerized ocean freight.