In pursuit of its mandate to protect shippers’ interests, on a macro level, the Council joins forces with other shippers’ councils in the world to push for reforms in the regulatory regime and maritime liability that would ultimately affect national maritime regimes, and establish a standard performance assessment scheme for freight forwarders and other service providers, among others.

Shippers’ councils in the world are developing more structured organizations to increase their influence. The Asian Shippers’ Council was formed in 2004 which consisted members of major shippers’ organizations in Asia. In September 2006, the Global Shippers’ Forum was formed as a form of summit meeting for shipper delegates from all over the world. There are also the Federation of ASEAN Shippers’ Councils and Cross-Strait China Shippers’ Alliance. The later is composed of shippers’ organizations in the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The Council is an active member in these international and regional organizations.

The 4th Asian Shippers’ Meeting was held on May 21, 2007 at the World Trade Center in Seoul, South Korea, hosted by the Korean Shippers’ Council (KSC), and attended by the Japan Shippers’ Council (JSC), Hong Kong Shippers’ Council (HKSC), Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC, Macau Shipper’s Association (MSA) and the KSC. The meeting serves to strengthen alliances and solidarity among Asian shippers. At the 4th ASM, there was an exchange of views and information on issues of common interest, among them escalating freight rates, Terminal Handling Charges (THC) in the various ports in the region, electronic trade and the repeal of anti-trust immunity for liner shipping in the EU.

The 2007 Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) was held on September 16-18, 2007 in Singapore. The GSF is now the recognized in the international world of freight transportation and trade as the representative voice of shippers whose respective members are users of transportation services. GSF today represents numerous shipper groups from North America, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Europe, whose focus centers on policies and industry practices that impact the international movement and handling of freight.

The purpose of the Forum is to share information on regional developments important for shippers, debate common views and establish a united front in the advocacy of strategic freight policies to national and international policy makers. Some of the GSF’s discussion topics have included enhancing a more competitive environment in freight transport; developing programs that foster more efficient transport and trade; support for effective government programs; and greater efficiencies through communication.

On May 26-31, 2008, Mr. Willy Lin, Chairman of the Council, was invited to be a part of the Hong Kong Business Mission to Central Europe, led by the HKSAR’s Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang. The mission of the five-day visit to Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic was to strengthen bilateral economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and central European countries through dialogue, workshops and talks. The Office of the Financial Secretary and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council coordinated with local chambers of commerce to organise series of workshops in Ljubljana, Vienna and Prague.

The 5th Asian Shippers’ Meeting was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province in China on June 8-10, 2008, attended by the HKSC, JSC, KSC, MSA, Shenzhen Shippers’ Assocation, TNSC, and hosted by the JSC. The shippers’ discussions focused on both common and individual issues affecting Asian economies, ranging from THCs, the EC’s repeal of the block anti-trust exemption granted to ocean carriers, freight rate and surcharges, and the introduction of new charges impsoed by shipping lines. Guests at the meeting who made presentations, were Mr. Rod Riseborough, CEO of the Far Eastern Freight Conference, Mr. Chris Bourne, CEO of the European Liner Affairs Assocaition, Mr. Yuichi Sonoda, Managing Director fo the Japanese Shipowners’ Association, and representing the Asian Shipowners’ Forum at the meeting, Mr. Shugei Togo, President of MOL (China) Co. Ltd.

The 2008 Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) was held on September 13-18 in Montreal, Canada and consisted of the Asian Shippers’ Council, Canadian Industrial Transportation Association, European Shippers’ Council, Japan Shippers’ Council, The National Industrial Transportation League of the US, held its meeting in Montreal, Canada on September 14-16. Members affirmed their support and advancement of policies that foster customized economic partnerships between liner operators and their customers; effective and competitive security measures that will make supply chains safer and less vulnerable to terrorism; surcharges and ancillary charges that are individually determined and representative of actual costs; and adoption of programs that will enhance the environment without diminishing the efficiency and effectiveness of transportation networks necessary to move international commerce. Among the items under discussion were Maritime Regulatory Reform, Freight Transport/Supply Chain Security, Surcharges/Ancillaries, infrastructure investment, the environment.