Don't penalize Taiwan, Sea-Land says. (Sea-Land Service Inc.)

Carrier says problems remain, but Taiwan should get chore time to life restrictions.

One of the U.S.-flag carriers said to be victimized by Taiwan's maritime trade practices has asked the Federal Maritime Commission not to retaliate against Taiwan - at least for now.

Sea-Land Service urged the FMC to continue to monitor the situation and to move swiftly if Taiwan doesn't act "within a reasonable time period" to lift restrictions on U.S.-flag lines.

But for now, Sea-Land said, the Taiwanese government should be given a chance to ease its restrictions on U.S.-flag lines.

The FMC's bureau of hearing counsel has recommended that the commission impose stiff sanctions on Taiwanese carriers Evergreen Marine Corp. and Yang Ming Marine Transport.

Under the Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988, those sanctions could include termination of tariffs or fines of up to $1 million per voyage on Taiwanese carriers calling in U.S. ports.

The threat of …