A majority of our trading partners share our belief in free, transparent markets, open ports and nondiscriminatory treatment for all carriers. We would like this standard to become the norm internationally. However, some governments do not trust the results that the free market produces in the maritime sector. In those cases a situation may arise where a foreign government restricts the access of our carriers to its shipping markets while its own national carriers enjoy full access to the market in the United States. In such instances it is incumbent on us to seek removal of the barriers that are imposed on our carriers, so that we can establish reciprocal treatment for them.
Reciprocity is our guiding principle.
It goes without saying that the Federal Maritime Commission, through its enforcement of U.S. maritime trade laws, has played an essential role in dealing with the problems encountered by our carriers in foreign markets. Over the years, the Commission, now under the able leadership of Chairman Hal Creel, has carried out its responsibilities as an independent regulatory agency in a highly professional and responsible manner. As a result of these efforts, long lists of restrictions on intermodal operations that had been in force in Taiwan and Korea were removed several years ago. In addition, through a similar process we have expanded the scope of shipping and related landside activities for U.S. carriers in China. However, in China much still remains to be done before we can say that a market-based situation exists in our maritime trade.