This year The National Industrial Transportation League was honored to serve as host for the 2005 event held September 15-17. In addition to the League, participating groups included: the European Shippers' Council; Japan Shippers' Council; the Canadian Industrial Transportation Association; and Asian Shippers' Council. Other groups included: the China Shippers' Association; Hong Kong Shippers' Council; Thai National Shippers' Council; Korean Shippers' Council; Sri Lanka Shippers' Council; Philippine Shippers' Bureau; Singapore National Shippers' Council; Dutch Shippers' Council; and, Finnish Shippers' Council.
Opening remarks were made by League Chairman Mick Barr, director for global cross border operations at Procter & Gamble. Mr. Barr noted important past accomplishments of the TSG including successful passage in the United States of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, the on-going inquiry in Europe of the block-exemption authority for liner conferences as well as efforts in Asia to advance market-force initiatives including industry concerns over ancillaries and surcharges.
At the conclusion of the 2005 meeting a "Joint Declaration" was released. It summarizes the discussions and conclusions taken by participants on such subjects as: maritime regulatory reform; cooperative ocean carrier agreements; freight transportation security; surcharges/ancillaries including terminal handling charges (THCs); congestion; ocean cargo liability; liberalization of air transport; development of global air performance standards; and regulatory wood packaging materials. A complete copy of the 2005 Shippers' Declaration may be found by clicking here: www.nitl.org/2005JointDeclaration.pdf.
In addition to the views set forth in the declaration, the TSG agreed to review and discuss a new mission statement which will be developed over the next year.
The TSG's next meeting is scheduled for 2006 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.