In this exclusive interview, Laura DiBella, the newly confirmed Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission, outlines the agency's aggressive new approach to protecting U.S. shippers and enforcing maritime trade compliance on a global scale.

DiBella explains how the FMC is shifting from a reactive referee of commercial disputes to a proactive "consumer protection agency" with the authority to investigate global chokepoints, shadow fleets, foreign policy barriers, and domestic rail bottlenecks affecting American cargo.

Key topics covered:

• Trump's mandate to "resurrect U.S. dominance in the maritime arena"
• The FMC's expanded global enforcement powers under OSRA 2022
• Investigating chokepoints like Suez Canal and Malacca Strait
• Shadow fleet and flags of convenience investigations
• How the FMC can penalize foreign governments that block U.S. cargo
• What shippers should document and when to engage the FMC
• Detention and demurrage protections and enforcement priorities
• Rail and chassis bottlenecks in Middle America
• Why the FMC wants to act before problems escalate

Laura DiBella's background: Former Florida Secretary of Commerce under Governor Ron DeSantis, Executive Director of the Florida Harbor Pilots Association, and President & CEO of Enterprise Florida. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025 and designated FMC Chair by President Trump on January 28, 2026.

This episode is produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. https://dimerco.com/

If you're a freight buyer, shipper, logistics manager, or supply chain professional planning for 2026, this interview is essential listening.

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