American President Lines, Ltd. v. Federal Maritime Commission and United States of America

BURGER, Circuit Judge.

Petitioners, common carrier steamship lines, engaged in commerce between American and foreign ports, are members of the Far East Conference, a voluntary association established pursuant to § 15 of the Shipping Act of 1916, 39 Stat. 733, as amended, 46 U.S.C. § 814, to fix uniform rates for carriers who are members of the Conference. The Far East Conference employs a dual rate contract system whereby shippers who agree to deal exclusively with members of the Conference rather than with independent carriers in the same trade, receive the benefit of uniform conference rates…