Press release

European shippers are looking forward to reaping the benefits of a new competitive environment that will be created when the liner shipping block exemption is repealed,’ Nicolette van der Jagt, Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council, told the meeting of the Consultative Shipping Group that represents European Countries and Japan in discussions with the US on maritime policy issues last week in Washington.

Both from our conversations in public and in private, we were greatly encouraged by the general impression we were left with that government officials on both sides of the Atlantic recognised the positive effects for their industries from removing anti-trust immunity from the liner shipping industry. There appears to be little if any concern over any conflict of laws once the EU repeals its block exemption regulation for liner shipping conferences. And the message presented from shippers that this would herald in a world of new opportunities and mature, stable business relationships between customers and carriers to the ultimate benefit of all was positively acknowledged. There was even an indication that Japan’s Fair Trade Commission was in favour of repealing anti-trust immunity from the liner shipping conferences.

We are convinced that other Administrations will adapt their liner shipping competition legislation at some point in the near future in order to give their industry similar benefits and competitive advantage to that which will be enjoyed by European industry.

At the same time we are engaged in very positive working relations with the European Commission,’ she continued. ‘We are confident that the European Commission understands our concerns about the ELAA proposals and will act upon this. The Commission has already said that some elements of the ELAA package of proposals for information exchange between carriers are problematic and we are confident that the Commission will not entertain anything that will water down the positive consequences of the repeal.

ESC briefed the US administration and CSG members on the expectation from supply chain managers on a global level. ESC members will be meeting with their North American and Asian counterparts in September to examine further the positive implications of this development on the global shipping market. Van der Jagt concluded, ‘It is now the time for the carriers to fully embrace a competitive market and we are looking forward to further discussions with the carriers to ensure that we all benefit from this exciting opportunity to capitalise on the new market environment, and can work together to deal with the real issues affecting maritime supply chains… issues such as security, congestion and service performance.

For further information contact: Nicolette van der Jagt, Secretary General of the ESC - Brussels 00 322 230 2113