FMC's Cordero Defends Global Trade, Touts Technological Changes in Shipping
International trade continues to have major benefits for Americans despite becoming an increasingly divisive issue, Federal Maritime Commission Commissioner Mario Cordero said during a March 20 speech for the International Shipping and Offshore Forum (here). "Many in the international trade community have grave concerns with not only the domestic debate questioning the benefits of international trade, but also the global debate," he said. "Let me make clear, international trade is a two-way street. Exports are as important as imports. True, there may be an imbalance on the export-import equation -- and I am a supporter of maximizing export opportunities -- yet, at the end of the day, the success of our U.S. exporters is dependent on a global consumer.”
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
There is still "ample room for optimism" and "once we understand and agree on the American importer/exporter’s role in international trade, and international trade’s significant role in American commerce, we can focus on ways to promote all three," he said. "I strongly believe that promoting the American importer/exporter, international trade, and American commerce means investing in our maritime infrastructure -- including the FMC." At the same time, shipping "will continue to evolve, whether as to structure, service delivery, or cost-saving efficiencies," he said. "In 2017, I believe we will have an escalation in the number of digital and e-commerce applications, with the objective of providing more visibility in the movement of containerized freight and implementing cost-effective solutions in the supply chain.”