service more foreign than national interests. For example, the US limits the amount of foreign ownership of its domestic airlines to a maximum of 49%, with a maximum of 25% control. Other countries have similar restrictions. In recent years, four trends had significant consequences over the context in which transport policy takes place: Deregulation and privatization. A more broad focus of policies, particularly in light of intermodalism and multimodalism. A move towards social and political issues behind transport projects as opposed to technical and engineering issues. Globalization increased interactions at the international level, both for freight and passengers. 3. Policy Instruments Governments have a large number of instruments at their disposal to carry out transport policy. Some are direct, such as public ownership, while others are indirect such as safety standards: An extremely important instrument is public ownership . The direct control by the state of transportation infrastructure, modes or terminals is very widespread. Most common is the provision by public agencies of transport infrastructure such as roads, ports, airports and canals. Public ownership also extends to include the operation of transport modes. In many countries airlines, railways, ferries and urban transit are owned and operated by public agencies. Subsidies represent an important instrument used to pursue policy goals. Many transport modes and services are capital intensive, and thus policies seeking to promote services or infrastructure that the private sector are unwilling or unable to provide may be made commercially viable with the aid of subsidies. Private railroad companies in