More than 100 members of Congress are calling on federal maritime authorities to probe what they say are ocean carrier actions that undermine American exports by refusing to pick up U.S. goods, instead returning empty after dropping off imports. In a letter (pdf) to Michael A. Khouri, chair of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the lawmakers voiced concern over reports that certain vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs) are declining to ship U.S. agricultural commodity exports from ports in the United States. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), the Republican lawmaker spearheading the bipartisan effort, is blaming China. “Market access is only as good as the access to shipping infrastructure,” Johnson said in a statement. “Once again, China is participating in unfair trade practices, prioritizing empty shipping containers over U.S. agriculture products. America’s farmers work hard to produce a high-quality product, and we can’t allow China to shut them out of the market.” At …