California Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is likely to ratify a tax of US$30 per TEU at the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland, reports American Shipper.
Gov Schwarzenegger, who vetoed a previous bill two years ago, has struck a compromise since with its sponsor, Long Beach Democratic senator Alan Lowenthal who hopes to bring his SB974 container tax bill to a vote by the end of August. If passed, it will go to the governor for ratification.
The compromise reportedly would allow southern California ports more time to approve two local container taxes. The governing port boards of Long Beach and Los Angeles approved the container taxes in December, adding a $50 charge to each laden container.
The tax is expected to raise up to $500 million annually for trade-related infrastructure development and air quality projects.
Sen Lowenthal's bill has now been passed in the state assembly, and the governor is expected to ratify it, thus signing it into law.
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