U.S. and Hong Kong (2001)

Mineta Pushes for Aviation Liberalization With Hong Kong

Following is the text of the June 27 Department of Transportation news release:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DOT 66-01
Wednesday, June 27, 2001

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta
Calls For Free Trade in Transportation Services,
Liberalization of U.S.-Hong Kong Aviation Market

ATLANTA - U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today said that in a trade-driven global economy, it is vital that transportation companies have maximum flexibility to respond to the needs of shippers and travelers.

In remarks to the Hong Kong-U.S. Business Council, the Secretary noted that Hong Kong has become the busiest container shipping port in the world because of its business-friendly, free-trade philosophy and its commitment to a level playing field for both local and international business. He encouraged Hong Kong authorities to take a similar approach to opening Hong Kong's aviation market.

"An open regime for aviation services would allow Hong Kong to build on its economic strengths, geographic location, and historical role as a transshipment center to remain a predominant logistic and trade hub for the region," Secretary Mineta said. "We strongly believe that such a regime will benefit airlines and customers alike through more efficient operations and better services at the lowest possible fares."

The U.S. will re-engage Hong Kong in discussions about aviation liberalization next month, he added.

He noted that the U.S. has signed Open-Skies agreements with a number of economies in the Asia Pacific region, including Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia, and last month signed the first-ever multilateral Open-Skies agreement with Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. The United States has bilateral Open-Skies agreements with 53 aviation partners worldwide, allowing unrestricted service by the airlines of each side to, from and beyond the other's territory, without restrictions on where carriers fly, the number of flights they operate, or the prices they charge.

Secretary Mineta added that while Hong Kong has become the busiest container shipping port in the world because of its free-trade philosophy, China does not extend that same sense of reciprocity to its maritime relations with the United States. China enforces restrictions on U.S. ocean carriers while Chinese shipping companies enjoy the freedom offered by U.S. open-market standards. The Secretary called for seizing every opportunity for positive change, including China's recent entry into the World Trade Organization.

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