Wednesday, 24 September 2008 00:00
The 2008 meeting of the Global Shippers' Forum (GSF) in Montreal is said to have reinforced the assumption that the abolishment of liner shipping conferences will benefit shippers worldwide.
Following the repeal of the liner shipping block exemption from October 18, the GSF is encouraging trading partners in Asia, China and India to bring about competitive reforms that would foster more competition, a statement issued by the European Shippers' Council (ESC) said.
"GSF members strongly believe that European reforms repealing the liner block exemption as well as changes brought about in North America would provide comparable benefits for Asian countries, resulting in less influence by conferences and discussion agreements over rates and services," the release said.
"World leaders and influential trading partners throughout Asia, China and India are strongly encouraged to apply their antitrust laws to liner shipping."
Furthermore, "the US is encouraged to undertake a comprehensive review of its own shipping laws to determine whether an antitrust exemption should continue to exist for liner carriers. GSF believes that anti-trust immunity, as it relates to the ability of liner carriers to benchmark, discuss, set or fix rates, service terms and/or surcharges, is not necessary and should be terminated."
Said ESC chairman Dick van den Broek Humphreij: "We are very excited by the developments in Europe because this paves the way for shippers in Europe and worldwide to freely negotiate rates, surcharges and other terms of carriage on a fairer basis with carriers. However, we know that a change of culture will not happen overnight and therefore members of the GSF, including shippers' councils in Asia, will remain watchful to ensure that carriers are not breaching EU competition rules."
Turning to the issue of anti-terrorist security for sea freight, the GSF reaffirmed its total rejection of proposals for 100 per cent security scanning of all cargo.
"Well established principles of risk assessment should not be diluted to scan every box," the group said in a statement. The GSF is urging governments to work to recognise other security regimes and remove the duplication of effort, resources and expense for shippers seeking to comply with them.
The GSF concluded its meeting with a call for governments to develop and actively support programmes that reward best practices, adopt technology or develop infrastructure that reduces the environmental impact of transport.
