I suggest we begin simplifying a very complex issue by de-coupling air cargo and passenger services. The movement of goods has nothing to do with the movement of people. A separate multilateral agreement is needed to cover air cargo services alone. I propose that this issue become part of the dialogue of the GATS 2000 intergovernmental negotiations later this year. The third obstacle I'd like to address is today's outdated customs procedures.
Many countries have customs regulations designed to raise revenues and create jobs.
But these short-range benefits come at a heavy price. For example, in some countries, carriers like UPS are forbidden to handle shipments above a certain value and weight. In other instances, procedural rules require us to open packages and make a physical count of every nut and bolt. We all pay the price for this inefficiency. A simple first step toward reform would be to raise duty-free thresholds around the world.