Liberalizing Maritime Transport Services: Towards a Fair Liberalization

Abstract

The maritime transport sector is considered as the most liberalized sector due to its international nature, but this fact does not imply that the sector is completely free because still many restrictions are found, some of them imposed by developed countries and - as a reaction - others are imposed by developing countries. The restrictions imposed by advanced countries are: barriers to enter into the industry, international cartels, alliances, conferences, restrictions on maritime labour movements and stiff shipping registration conditions. As a reaction, developing countries try to find a way to survive in maritime transport service market through: cargo reservation systems using bilateral agreements, Code of Conduct, subsidization of maritime transport sectors and restriction of the commercial presence in ports. It is worth mentioning that developed countries apply the same restriction practices used by developing countries; it is also noticed that liberalizing transport services negotiations neglect the restrictive practices imposed by developing countries whereas they concentrate on the restriction practices used by developing countries. This paper aims at discussing the restrictive practices imposed by both developed and developing countries to liberalize maritime transport services on a fair basis.