Global Shippers Forum sees no harm in EU's conference ban

MEMBERS attending the 2009 Global Shippers' Forum (GSF) have declared that the downturn affecting the liner shipping is "a direct consequence of the economic conditions and could not be attributed to, nor were they exacerbated by, the reform of EU competition law and outlawing of liner shipping conference cartels on trades to and from Europe."

The GSF members said regulatory reform "would enable the liner shipping sector to achieve efficiencies and competitive options for customers," said a joint statement issued by the Asian Shippers' Council, the European Shippers' Council, the Canadian Industrial Transportation Association and America's National Industrial Transportation League, at the end of the GSF meeting in London.

The GSF agreed to support the legitimate formation and operation of non-rate making liner shipping agreements, and to continue to support regulatory reform outlawing rate-making cartels in other parts of the world.

Members agreed to urge Asian governments to initiate reforms which are in line with competitive global practices, and noted that "Asia would remain the focal point for the GSF campaign on such regulatory reform of the liner shipping sector."

 
(Source: Transport Weekly)