B03-032

U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William G. Schubert and Hong Shanxiang, Vice Minister of Communications for the People's Republic of China, have signed a Memorandum of Consultation today in Washington, D.C. The Memorandum reflects the work of an initial round of negotiations on a new maritime transport agreement.

Discussions focused on fundamental issues of concern to the two governments, including Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) bonding; filing of confidential freight rates; branch offices; logistics services; vessel agency; and controlled carriers.

Captain Schubert said he was impressed by the constructive discussions and that, while much work needs to be done to complete a U.S.-China Bilateral Maritime Agreement, this was a very good beginning.

A copy of the Memorandum of Consultation is available in Adobe PDF format by clicking a link below:

English

Chinese

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The mission of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) is to promote the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced United States merchant marine, sufficient to carry the Nation's domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. MARAD also seeks to ensure that the United States enjoys adequate shipbuilding and repair services, efficient ports, effective intermodal water and land transportation systems, and reserve shipping capacity in time of national emergency.