ACCA seek liberalisation of express delivery services through WTO
The Air Courier Conference of America (ACCA) today applauded the fact that the U.S. government has once again highlighted express delivery services as one of the key sectors for which it is seeking liberalizations through the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services negotiations. The U.S. today issued its requests for express delivery and other services to the WTO.
“We are very pleased with the recognition of the express delivery services as a unique service provider,” said Brian Gill, chairman of ACCA’s International Committee. “Opening overseas markets to our industry will not only improve business and create jobs for our member companies, but will also enhance the critical infrastructure necessary to realize the full economic benefits of e-commerce to countries throughout the world.”
In the negotiations, ACCA is seeking a new classification for express delivery services (EDS) and appropriate recognition of EDS as a separate sector in the GATS. In addition, ACCA believes that commitments in the sector should apply on a non-discriminatory basis to all providers of these services, including national postal administrations. Third, in many markets outside the United States, national postal administrations are the primary competitors to private express delivery companies. The EDS offered by these postal administrations often benefit from direct and indirect, market-distorting government assistance. It is crucial that international trade rules address the market distorting obstacle of such aid.
The express delivery service industry, represented by ACCA, specializes in fast, reliable transportation services for documents, packages and freight. ACCA members include large firms with global delivery networks, such as Airborne Express, DHL Worldwide Express, Federal Express, TNT U.S.A. and United Parcel Service, as well as smaller businesses with strong regional delivery networks. Together, ACCA members employ more than 510,000 American workers. Worldwide, ACCA members have operations in over 200 countries; move more than 20 million packages each day; employ more than 800,000 people; operate 1,200 aircraft; and earn revenues of roughly $60 billion annually.
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SOURCE Air Courier Conference of America
CONTACT: Sue Presti of Air Courier Conference of America, +1-703-998-7121
Web site: http://www.aircour.org
