ESC TO COMMENT ON NEW TACA

   The European Shippers’ Council will comment on the revised
Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement notified by transatlantic carriers to
the European Commission.
   Chris Welsh, secretary-general of the ESC, said that the shippers’
organization is evaluating the agreement and will express its views by June
5, the deadline set by the EC for parties to comment on the competitive
aspects of the conferences agreement.
   "We will be working up to the wire," Welsh said.
   He declined to comment on whether the ESC would oppose the new
agreement, saying that this is still premature.
   The EC’s position is also unknown. The EC, which outlawed several
earlier transatlantic conference agreements, has published the TACA
agreement without raising initial objections, but it can still start
investigations against it later.
   Welsh confirmed that he and other representatives of the ESC met
recently Karel Van Miert, the EC competition commissioner, and discussed
the TACA pact.