Which agency regulates foreign freight forwarders?

• A. Federal Maritime Commission
• B. Federal Aviation Administration
• C. Department of Commerce
• D. Environmental Protection Agency

Answer: (A)

Regulation of foreign freight forwarders is handled by the Federal Maritime Commission, the agency that oversees ocean transportation and the intermediaries involved in moving goods by sea. A freight forwarder coordinates international shipments, handling routing, documentation, carrier selection, and related services on behalf of shippers. The FMC licenses and registers ocean transportation intermediaries, enforces rules on tariffs and service contracts, and ensures fair practices in ocean shipping, which is why this agency is the correct regulator for foreign freight forwarders. Other agencies focus on different modes or areas—such as aviation safety for the FAA, environmental protections for the EPA, or trade policy and export controls for the Department of Commerce—so they aren’t the primary regulators for foreign freight forwarders in ocean trade.