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.