TRADE IN INTERNATIONAL MARITIME SERVICES: HOW MUCH DOES POLICY MATTER?

Maritime transport costs greatly impede international trade. This article examines why these costs are so high in some countries, and quantifies the importance of 2 explanations: restrictive trade policies and private anti-competitive practices. It finds that both matter, but the latter have a greater impact. Trade liberalization and the breakup of private carrier agreements would lead to an average of 33% lower liner transport prices and to cost savings of up to $3 billion on goods carried to the U.S. alone. The policy implications are clear: there is a need not only for further liberalization of government policy but also for strengthened international disciplines on restrictive business practices. The authors propose an approach to developing such disciplines in the current round of services negotiations at the World Trade Organization.

• Record URL:
  http://econ.worldbank.org/files/1338_wps2522.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02586770
• Corporate Authors:

  Oxford University Press

  Journals Subscription Department, 2001 Evans Road
  Cary, NC  United States  27513
• Authors:
  • Fink, C
  • Mattoo, A
  • Neagu, I C
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 81-108
• Serial:
  • World Bank Economic Review
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press
  • ISSN: 0258-6770

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Business practices; International trade; Liner shipping; Maritime industry; Ocean shipping; Private carriers; Transportation policy; Water transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Marine Transportation; Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00934100
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 6 2002 12:00AM