Express industry welcomes release of ITC study
The Air Courier Conference of America (ACCA) welcomed the release of a study on the express delivery services industry by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The report concluded that U.S.-based express delivery services suppliers encounter a range of trade barriers in foreign markets and that initiatives such as postal reform, trade negotiations, and improvements in customs practices could improve the industry’s competitiveness in foreign markets. “This study recognizes the significance of express delivery services to the U.S. and global economies, and highlights the importance of reducing foreign barriers to our service,” said Sue Presti, executive director of ACCA’s International Committee. “We believe the study will help our efforts to obtain strong commitments for express delivery services in future trade agreements.”
The ITC study concludes that the express delivery services sector is affected by a wide range of issues and that barriers in any of these areas (including cargo handling, warehousing, telecommunications, postal services, and customs clearance) can impair the industry’s competitiveness. The report notes that express delivery firms are particularly affected by customs barriers. It also observes that U.S.-based express delivery services firms increasingly compete with postal service monopolies in foreign markets. “We are pleased the report delves into the critical issues of customs procedures and competition with foreign postal monopolies. The study highlights the need for increased liberalization which would enable our industry to help facilitate global trade,” said Ms. Presti. “This report will help government trade negotiators focus on the need for further liberalization of market access restrictions that impede the efforts of international express delivery services providers to meet the logistics and trading needs of the global economy. The work the ITC has done to inventory unnecessary customs barriers should be particularly helpful in future trade negotiations.”
The express delivery services industry, which ACCA represents, specializes in fast, reliable transportation services for documents, packages and freight. ACCA members include large firms with global delivery networks, such as DHL Express, FedEx, Purolator, TNT U.S.A. and UPS, 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 approximately USD60 billion annually.
