ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
SIXTEENTH MEETING – HONG KONG, CHINA
NOVEMBER 1999

MORE COMPETITIVE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY STEERING COMMITTEE

PROGRESS REPORT FOR FACILITATION OF
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PROJECT (TPT 02-2000T)

Submitted by Australia

October 1999

LEAD ECONOMY: AUSTRALIA

AGENDA ITEM: PROGRESS REPORT FOR FACILITATION OF
                         INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PROJECT (TPT 02-2000T)

Background

At its 15^th meeting in April 1999, the TPT-WG agreed that, subject to final funding approval (US$49,200) that action could be taken to implement the project in April 2000. The project proposal under the TILF special account was approved by BMC in July and endorsed by SOM III and by Ministers in Auckland in September 1999.

The objectives of the project are to:

• Study the impact of maritime policy reforms on international shipping services among APEC economies; and

• Develop a framework of policies that facilitate the development of international shipping services.

Study of the Impact of Maritime Policy

The research and analysis components of the project will be reported in the ‘Study of the Impact of Maritime Policy Reform’, it will comprise:

• an integrated qualitative and quantitative assessment of international shipping services;
• time series analysis of the impact of policy reform on shipping services and trade growth;
• an analysis of regulations and policies that have been implemented to promote maritime industry development.

Case Studies and the ‘Policy Framework’

Based on the outcomes of the Study the consultant will undertake case studies of economies whose maritime policy reforms have resulted in improving access to safe and efficient international shipping services. With the cooperation of APEC TPT-WG members, the consultant will encourage at least four (and possibly six) economies to participate in the case studies.

For this phase to be completed successfully it is necessary for participating TPT-WG members to nominate a coordinator, or contact official, in their economy. The role of the coordinator or contact official is to liaise with the consultant and relevant shipping operators. Economies interested in participating in the case study should forward an expression of interest to Australia by emailing joanne.talbot@dotrs.gov.au.

The consultant will work with economy coordinators to analyse maritime policy instruments that have effectively improved access to international shipping services. The outcomes of the case studies will be reported in the ‘Policy Framework’. The ‘Policy Framework’ will describe maritime policies that have been shown to facilitate efficient international shipping services.

Proposed Timetable

It may be necessary to revise the project implementation table at Attachment A if the Secretariat decides in mid December that they do not wish to relax the rule that 2000 TILF projects can only incur expenditure from May 2000 onwards.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the above progress report be noted and that economies wishing to participate in the case study put in an expression of interest and nominate who their economy coordinator of contact official will be.

Project Implementation Timetable

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