Shipper-carrier debate heats up on banning transpac antitrust immunity
The European Shippers' Council (ESC), the Asian Shippers Council (ESC) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ISC) have exchanged differing views on whether to ban liner conferences which are exempted from competition laws, Shippingazette reports.
"Shipping is international by nature, and international trade relies on it being able to flourish and respond directly to the needs of trade, not to [line's] own or collective ambitions," said Nicolette van der Jagt, secretary general of the ESC.
But the International Chamber of Shipping (ISC) said conferences provide a forum for carriers to discuss rates and surcharges collectively and create stability.
Consortia and conferences "allow shipping services to cope better with the severe and sudden imbalances in trade flows that are a feature of global shipping markets, including intense seasonal fluctuations", said the ICS to counter an Asian Shippers' Council plea against a New Zealand antitrust exemption.
The ISC carrier group said the exemption in line with Australia, the United States, China and other Far Eastern countries which help them to pursue long-term investment in a volatile market place.
"Whatever might be decided for reasons of national competition policy, ship operators trading to and from New Zealand are part of a global shipping market. The various maritime competition rules that apply in the Asia Pacific are currently broadly in alignment," it argued.
ASC chairman John Lu, of the Asian shippers, said exemption is anathema to free trade. "They act like the cartels and they drive up the cost of transport," he said.
"Shipping is international by nature, and international trade relies on it being able to flourish and respond directly to the needs of trade, not to [line's] own or collective ambitions," said Nicolette van der Jagt, secretary general of the ESC.
But the International Chamber of Shipping (ISC) said conferences provide a forum for carriers to discuss rates and surcharges collectively and create stability.
Consortia and conferences "allow shipping services to cope better with the severe and sudden imbalances in trade flows that are a feature of global shipping markets, including intense seasonal fluctuations", said the ICS to counter an Asian Shippers' Council plea against a New Zealand antitrust exemption.
The ISC carrier group said the exemption in line with Australia, the United States, China and other Far Eastern countries which help them to pursue long-term investment in a volatile market place.
"Whatever might be decided for reasons of national competition policy, ship operators trading to and from New Zealand are part of a global shipping market. The various maritime competition rules that apply in the Asia Pacific are currently broadly in alignment," it argued.
ASC chairman John Lu, of the Asian shippers, said exemption is anathema to free trade. "They act like the cartels and they drive up the cost of transport," he said.