Express industry praises U.S.-Chile free trade agreement
The Air Courier Conference of America (ACCA) today applauded the proposed U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement’s commitment to assuring fair competition in the express delivery market. The trade agreement’s terms were successfully finalized between U.S. and Chilean representatives earlier today. “We are extremely pleased with the recognition of express delivery services as a unique service sector and with the important commitments to maintain market access for our industry,” said David Spence, chairman of ACCA’s International Trade Subcommittee. Spence, who is also Senior Counsel, FedEx Regulatory and Legal Affairs, added, “The agreement will ensure fair competition between public and private providers of express delivery services.”
The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement is one of the first trade agreements to include an appropriate definition of express delivery services and to make clear that the agreement’s provisions apply to this sector. Furthermore, it includes commitments that should enable ACCA members to maintain and expand services between the two countries. The U.S.-Chile agreement also contains important provisions to facilitate customs clearance so express carriers can provide the fast, reliable service that businesses and consumers in both countries need. “This agreement will not only improve business and create jobs, but will also enhance the critical infrastructure necessary to realize the full benefits of free trade between the United States and Chile. ACCA will work hard to ensure that Congress ratifies this important agreement,” said Selina Jackson of United Parcel Service, co-chair of business efforts to obtain congressional passage of the FTA.
The express delivery service 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 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 approximately $60 billion annually.
