FEFC MAY END INLAND RATE-MAKING
The Far Eastern Freight Conference is considering ending its
long-established practice of setting common inland rates.
The carriers of the Asia/Europe conference had previously said that they
would be prepared to give up inland pricing if the European Shippers’
Council accepted a compromise announced last October in Barcelona.
However, the ESC has not accepted the Barcelona compromise and FEFC
carriers are now reconsidering their position on inland pricing.
The EC continues to oppose inland pricing by conferences.
Under the Barcelona compromise, shipping lines hoped that they would
obtain more legal clarity and an antitrust exemption for their joint
port-to-port service contracts.