ESC WELCOMES TRI-PARTITE SHIPPERS’ RESOLUTIONS
The European Shippers’ Council has welcomed the recent resolutions made by
the tri-partite shipper group.
The tri-partite group, consisting of the ESC, the U.S. National Industrial
Transportation League, the Japan Shippers’ Council, the Canadian Shippers’ Council and
five other Asian shippers’ councils, called for worldwide maritime deregulation at their
meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, earlier this month.
"The key shippers’ organizations… in North America, Asia and Europe
have unequivocally made clear their desire for reform of the 125-year-old liner conference
system," said Garry Mansell, chairman of the ESC.
The tri-partite meeting also recommended the adoption of "sunset"
provisions to phase out price-fixing in shipping.
Ed Emmett, president of the NIT League, recently told American Shipper that
his organization does not call for the withdrawal of conferences’ antitrust immunity, but
it opposes carriers’ cartel practises.