The trade associations listed below support the concept of the EU Customs Reform. The European Commission’s Political Guidelines and strategic priorities, informed by the Draghi report, highlight the imperative for Europe to enhance both its competitiveness and its security. Both are intertwined at the border. Getting EU Customs Reform right has never been so important or so urgent. The EU customs reform should ensure that the external border facilitates trade and functions as a conduit for competitiveness while preventing economic inefficiencies. Smart customs reform must increase the EU’s security and protect its citizens without compromising legitimate trade. These goals can only be achieved with a customs union that is modern, acting as one and in partnership with the private sector.

The maritime industry, represented by the signatory industry organizations, is united in its pursuit of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 consistent with the International Maritime Organization’s 2023 Strategy. Significant work remains and IMO Member States must build on the historic momentum that delivered the 2023 Strategy to develop, adopt, and implement appropriate mid-term GHG reduction measures.

Your Excellency Secretary-General Guterres, The maritime industry, represented by the organisations behind this letter, are grateful for the recognition that the UN Security Council and you personally have placed on the shipping industry and the importance of the free movement as set out in international law. We also thank and applaud IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez for all the hard work raising the profile of shipping and our seafarers.

Industry Associations express their deep concern over the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered by the crew of MV True Confidence in an attack in the Red Sea on 6 March 2024. The loss of life and injuries to civilian seafarers is completely unacceptable. Merchant vessels crewed by civilian seafarers transporting global trade have a right to innocent passage through the region without the threat of attack. The frequency of attacks on merchant shipping highlights the urgent need for all stakeholders to take decisive action to safeguard the lives of innocent civilian seafarers and put an end to such threats. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all those affected by this terrible event.

We unite with Customs Officials globally under the leadership of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to commemorate the inaugural meeting of the Customs Co-operation Council in Brussels in 1953, marking International Customs Day (ICD). International Customs Day is observed annually on January 26. We express our appreciation to Secretary-General Saunders of the WCO for adopting the theme "Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose." The associations mentioned below, represented in the Trade Contact Group (TCG) established by the European Commission, commend, and support this theme, which could not have come at a better time. For more than two decades, we have played a crucial role in providing valuable expertise to the European Commission, Member States' customs authorities, and other institutional stakeholders.

The EU Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) is an essential regulatory tool that yields significant benefits to a variety of stakeholders, including Member States, with no downside from a competition or consumer welfare perspective. The CBER contributes to the connectivity and competitiveness of Member State economies, to the benefit of their exporters and consumers, whilst also making important contributions to climate goals.

In total 661 containers lost at sea in 2022, out of 250 million transported. This represents the lowest losses in % since the start of the survey in 2008. The improved numbers are positive news, but there is no time for complacency and we will continue our work to reduce the number of containers lost at sea. Safety is a job that never stops, and every container lost at sea will always be one too many.

As active members of the European Commission's Trade Contact Group (TCG), we have constantly engaged in a constructive manner to support the full implementation of the Union Customs Code (UCC) and have always recognized its essential role in sustaining compliant, effective and efficient international trade. Therefore, we are poised to work in the closest collaborative partnership with the European Commission, the European Parliament and all EU Member States to deliver a successful implementation of the UCC reform.

Jim Corbett, Environmental Director Europe for WSC comments on the conclusion of the FuelEU trilogue. “Today’s trilogue agreement on FuelEU Maritime is an important EU Green Deal policy for shipping. I am pleased to see that the regulation will evaluate fuels on their GHG performance across their full lifecycle. WSC worked with the parties for an effective, technology neutral regulation that will help drive the supply of alternative fuels and ensure real reductions in GHG emissions. We welcome the agreement announced today and will continue to work for effective FuelEU implementation that ensures that demand for renewable marine fuels in the EU region is matched by supply.”

The European Commission is currently evaluating the EU Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) which provides vital legal certainty for the vessel sharing arrangements entered into by shipping lines to the benefit of their customers, trade and the environment.

Today, the World Shipping Council (WSC) and members of the European Commission’s Trade Contact Group (TCG) have published a joint statement on World Customs Day to honour the inaugural meeting of the Customs Co-operation Council on January 26 and commend the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for adopting the topic “Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge Sharing and Professional Pride in Customs" for 2023.

This Petition for Review of the Commission’s Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) regarding Docket No. 2022-0066 is being submitted on behalf of the World Shipping Council (WSC) and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA).

In the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 22) Congress directed the Commission to initiate a rulemaking that, “shall only seek to further clarify reasonable rules and practices related to . . . the final rule published on May 18, 2020, entitled ‘Interpretive Rule on Demurrage and Detention Under the Shipping Act’.” Instead of following that instruction, the Commission proposes to abandon the Interpretive Rule’s fact-specific analysis entirely and replaces it with absolute prohibitions on charging detention or demurrage to broad classes of entities.

An open letter to the EU Parliament, Commission and Council from Danish Shipping, Methanol Institute, and the World Shipping Council in connection with the FuelEU trilogue negotiations.

Green fuels are essential for the maritime sector to deliver on the EU Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. The technologies for making the green fuels exist, but production capacities must be scaled up to make the fuels available for shipping. FuelEU Maritime can provide the certainty needed to ensure investments in scaling up green fuels, but the ambitions need to be strengthened to send a clear market signal. Danish Shipping, Methanol Institute, and World Shipping Council therefore call for increasing the ambition in the FuelEU, maximising GHG-intensity reduction from 2035 to 2050 and supporting early use of green e-fuels.

Green fuels are essential for the maritime sector to deliver on the Paris Agreement and the EU Green Deal. The technology for producing and using the new green fuels exists, but their production and distribution needs to be considerably upscaled. To get the necessary investments started today, politicians need to provide certainty on the requirements for the fuels of tomorrow by agreeing on a life-cycle approach in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). An open letter from Danish Shipping, Methanol Institute, Renewable Hydrogen Coalition, Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners, Swedish Shipowners’ Association, and the World Shipping Council.

WSC agrees with the Commission that allegations of “unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate” be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and that using a suite of non-exclusive factors is both appropriate and consistent with its past precedent. This is the approach that the Commission has consistently used when adjudicating cases brought under 46 U.S.C. § 41104(a) and its predecessors. It is important to remember in this regard that OSRA 22 did not create the “unreasonable refusal to deal” prohibition. Instead, OSRA 22 merely added language to the section by expressly naming vessel space accommodations as a factual situation to which the prohibition applies. Thus, adherence to past Commission precedent is required absent a reasoned explanation why its prior policies and standards are being changed.

Although WSC agrees with the Commission’s general approach, there are four specific points on which WSC urges the Commission to amend its proposal before publishing a final rule…

Taking the Customs Union to the next level as pledged by President Von der Leyen, should equip the EU to better withstand present and future challenges, while protecting its citizens and harnessing the economic opportunities of the 21st century. To do so Europe will continue to rely on its external trade and maritime commerce. The future Customs Union needs to be better configured for that trade to flourish securely. The completion of a genuine Customs Union characterised by the seamless application of its rules across all EU Member States, the operation by default of common EU IT systems and innovative processes remains a key priority.

WSC members in the liner industry are among the first movers leading the decarbonisation transition globally and within the European region. We need good policy in the Fit-for-55 package and especially an effective inclusion of shipping within the EU ETS framework that delivers the right GHG price signals to the parties that can change and shift the sector to the green vessel technology needed for deep decarbonisation.

Letter from the World Shipping Council, Assarmatori and Danish Shipping to Members of the European Parliament.

On 17 May, the ENVI Committee will vote on Peter Liese’s Committee Report amending the EC draft proposal to include international shipping within the EU ETS. We welcome this key moment in the history of EU climate action and on the path towards shipping’s green future.