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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
1 DRAFT JOINT TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
2 As of 27 April 2009
3
4 Introduction
5
6 1. As Ministers responsible for transportation in the APEC region, we met in
7 Manila, the Philippines to continue the progress of our work towards achieving a
8 safe, secure and efficient transportation system as well as realizing the primary goals
9 of free and open trade and investment in the region. In this regard, we express our
10 resolve to provide the APEC region with seamless and environmentally friendly
11 transportation systems through innovation and the use of advanced technology,
12 congestion reduction, enhanced transport safety, security and effective
13 sustainability.
14
15 2. Since our first meeting in Washington, United States of America in June 1995,
16 we have met many challenges in fulfilling the directives of our Leaders. While
17 primarily focusing on free and open trade and investment, we have achieved great
18 strides in balancing this work with initiatives on transport safety and security across
19 all modes of transportation.
20
21 3. We have recently witnessed disturbing events in the global financial and
22 energy sectors. The current global economic crisis and volatile energy prices have
23 not only undermined the economic gains we have achieved over the past several
24 years but have also threatened transportation components of each economy and
25 the global transport supply chain. We share the concerns of our Leaders about the
26 negative impact of volatile global food prices. We recognize that efficient
27 transportation and distribution systems are necessary to help stabilize these prices.
28
29 4. Concerned by the recent public health developments in a number of our
30 economies, we call upon our officials to work closely with the transportation industry
31 and with their colleagues in the public health agencies to enhance preparedness for
32 and contain the spread of pandemic influenza. 1
33
34 5. We reaffirm our commitment to achieve the goals of free and open trade with
35 the view to promoting growth and development as well as rapid recovery from the
36 current economic slowdown as stated in the Leaders Declaration in Lima, Peru in
37 November 2008. We recognize the commitment of APEC Ministers to stand firm
38 against any protectionist sentiment arising out of the crisis and maintain the progress
39 towards free and open trade and investment.
40
41 6. We welcome the report of the Transportation Working Group and appreciate
42 its accomplishments made possible through active and sustained cooperation among
43 APEC member economies in the fulfillment of our Leaders’, as well as our own
44 directives. We request the Working Group to continue its efforts to address the
1
New proposal from Canada as of 4/27/09. To be raised at Ministers’ Retreat under Theme 1.
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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
45 issues raised in the report and give priority to those issues we have identified and
46 other emerging issues which are essential for the transportation sector.
47
48 6. We further outline our specific priorities for the next two years as:
49
50 A. Liberalization and Facilitation of Transport Services
51
52 7. We reaffirm our Leaders’ commitment to the Bogor Goals as a key organizing
53 principle and driving force for APEC. We recognize that the Bogor Goals will be
54 achieved through unilateral reforms, and bilateral and multilateral trade and
55 transportation agreements or other means. We applaud the work that has been
56 completed and look forward to full implementation according to Leaders’ directives.
57
58 8. In an environment of continued economic challenges, we reaffirm our
59 commitment to achieve greater liberalization of the transportation sector. In this
60 regard, we support APEC’s work to strengthen Regional Economic Integration (REI)
61 in the APEC region through promoting free and open trade and investment.
62
63 9. We recognize that progress towards liberalization of air services has been
64 challenging, as APEC member economies attempt to balance the benefits of
65 liberalization with their other objectives. We urge all APEC member economies to
66 recognize the long-term benefits of open markets and economic integration, as well
67 as the importance of fair and equitable opportunities and to continue to work towards
68 agreements or other means to achieve air services liberalization to enhance mobility
69 of people and goods in the region.
70
71 10. In the area of maritime transport services, we commend the launch in
72 November 2008 of the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) in Ningbo, China which
73 aims to facilitate cooperation and communication among ports and related sectors in
74 the APEC region, as instructed by the Leaders during the November 2006 meeting in
75 Ha Noi, Viet Nam. We encourage all member economies to participate as APSN
76 Council Members and to promote collaboration and communication among their
77 ports and related sectors through the APSN. We look forward to the results of the
78 next meeting of the APSN Council in May 2009 in Vancouver, Canada which will
79 present the first opportunity for the private sector to engage in the new forum. We
80 welcome the proposal to develop an APEC Port Database, training courses for the
81 port industry and a workshop for senior management staff on port facility security.
82
83 11. We encourage member economies to review their status with regard to
84 liberalization in the maritime transport sector and endorse the initiative to remove
85 restrictions applied to specific maritime trade.
86
87 12. We recognize the importance of contribution by the Working Group to trade
88 facilitation by aligning domestic standards with international standards where
89 possible, and collaboration with other international fora.
90
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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
91 13. We acknowledge the progress of member economies towards the vehicle
92 standards harmonization and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). This is
93 accomplished through the multilateral arrangements administered by the World
94 Forum on Vehicle Standards and the International Organization for Standards (ISO).
95 We urge member economies to continue their progress on this effort.
96
97 B. Seamless Transportation Systems
98
99 14. We support the Working Group’s initiatives to enhance seamless
100 interconnectivity among the various modes within the transportation system to
101 ensure effective, safe, secure and efficient movement of people and goods while
102 improving the conservation of natural resources and mitigating environmental
103 impacts. This includes efforts to address congestion and intermodal issues.
104
105 15. We stress the importance of transportation in enhancing physical connectivity
106 and integrating markets. In particular, transportation systems that have well-
107 integrated road and rail elements are essential for bringing goods to and from ports.
108 A well integrated transport system addresses congestion and operational issues in
109 order to achieve free and open trade in the APEC region. We instruct the Working
110 Group to work closely with the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment and
111 Economic Committee (CTI-EC) to implement the APEC Supply Chain Connectivity
112 initiative.
113
114 16. We believe that the development and implementation of selected integrated
115 technologies are important to the successful management and operation of
116 intermodal transportation.
117
118 17. We instruct the Working Group to include activities addressing the
119 implementation of selected integrated technologies in the management and
120 operation of intermodal transportation such as the ITS, the Global Navigation
121 Satellite Systems (GNSS) and the Secure and Smart Containers (SSC). We
122 encourage the development of international standards through liaison with the ISO,
123 workforce training, information sharing, and research on transportation systems, and
124 improve supply chain management processes in an environmentally sustainable
125 way.
126
127 18. We instruct the Working Group to build upon the work of relevant regional and
128 international multilateral organizations and to avoid duplication of their efforts.
129
130 19. We acknowledge efforts towards disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and
131 management and recognize the excellent work under the auspices of the Counter-
132 Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) led by Singapore and a multi-economy working group
133 to develop an APEC Trade Recovery Programme. We instruct the Working Group to
134 follow the progress in this regard and offer assistance to CTTF as necessary.
135
136
137
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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
138 C. Aviation Safety and Security
139
140 20. Taking into account the different stages of economic development among
141 member economies, we instruct the Working Group to ensure the efforts in the area
142 of aviation safety to continue to complement the work of ICAO including conducting a
143 review of the recent Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP) outcomes
144 to help identify for member economies common deficiencies and reconciling any
145 differences from ICAO standards with the aim to improve compliance.
146
147 21. Efforts should be focused in particular on mitigating against runway
148 incursions, improving runway lighting and marking and overall ICAO compliance with
149 runway standards. Member economies are encouraged to implement ICAO
150 standards in English proficiency and safety management systems and to share
151 aviation safety data.
152
153 22. In the area of aviation security, we instruct the Working Group to continue to
154 examine emerging approaches to enhancing air cargo security; share information on
155 efficient screening technologies and training; and continue to harmonize aviation
156 security measures in the APEC region. It is important for the Working Group to
157 support the second cycle of ICAO’s Universal Security Audit Program and for
158 member economies to work towards continuous improvement of transport security
159 oversight and quality control.
160
161 D. Land Transport and Mass Transit Safety and Security
162
163 23. We recognize the immense human and economic cost of motor vehicle and
164 rail crashes to all member economies. We note the important contribution of
165 transportation related safety programs to the economic and social well being of each
166 member economy in the APEC region. We therefore encourage the promotion,
167 institutionalization and implementation of best practices and technologies designed
168 to create a safer road and rail environment. We urge member economies to
169 continue developing action plans to address the tragic social and economic cost due
170 to road trauma in the APEC region.
171
172 24. We instruct the Working Group to continue knowledge sharing and capacity
173 building and encourage science-based and transparent vehicle regulatory systems
174 and adoption of international standards on vehicle safety and emissions. In
175 particular, recognizing pressures on natural resource usage, air quality, congestion,
176 and greenhouse gas emissions from rising private usage, we urge member
177 economies to exchange information on ways to promote the development of cleaner
178 and more fuel efficient vehicles. 2
179
180 25. We acknowledge the efforts of individual member economies to promote the
181 security of land transport and mass transit systems such as the development of
2
Revised proposed text by USA, supported by MEG (4/27/09). Still to be discussed.
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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
182 guidelines for security planning as well as systems approach to transit security. (refer
183 back to LEG re systems approach)
184
185 26. We instruct the Working Group to use these initiatives to advance its work by
186 developing best practices on topics such as threat and risk assessment, drills and
187 exercises and security awareness training. We also call on the Working Group to
188 continue its collaboration with other relevant fora to promote knowledge sharing on
189 land transport security measures.
190
191 27. Owing to the vulnerability of land and mass transit systems from threats of
192 terrorism, we welcome the successful development of the International Working
193 Group on Land Transport Security (IWGLTS.) We instruct the Working Group to
194 continue developing initiatives to further promote land transport security specifically
195 aimed at the protection of mass transit systems in cooperation with other fora such
196 as the IWGLTS.
197
198 E. Maritime Safety and Security
199
200 28. Noting the 5th Anniversary of the implementation of the International Ship and
201 Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, adopted by the International Maritime
202 Organization (IMO), we encourage the exchange of information on its
203 implementation with a view to identifying the lessons learned, gaps and challenges,
204 and the benefits accrued by member economies. We encourage developed member
205 economies to assist in the training programs and further encourage the Working
206 Group to cooperate with relevant multilateral organizations.
207
208 29. We note the progress of the ISPS Code Implementation Assistance Program
209 and express support for the forthcoming implementation of related activities such as
210 the sub-regional workshops on the use of the Manual of Maritime Security Drills and
211 Exercises and the Port Security Visit Program (PSVP).
212
213 30. We condemn in the strongest possible terms, acts of piracy and armed
214 robbery against ocean going vessels and innocent seafarers off the coast of Somalia
215 and express our collective support of the decisive actions of the United Nations (UN)
216 and relevant organizations to protect vital international shipping lanes for overseas
217 trade.
218
219 31 We recognize the crucial role of international cooperation and effective
220 information sharing in addressing the problem of piracy and armed robbery against
221 ships, and commend the efforts taken by all sides.1/ the IMO, and other relevant
222 parties.2/ the IMO and the cooperation among the littoral states 3 and the Information
223 Sharing Center of Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and
224 Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)3.
225
3
3 Options on how to end para. 31, 1- proposal by Indonesia; 2-proposal by Canada; 3-proposal by Singapore,
still for discussion 4/27/09
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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
226 32. We instruct the Working Group to cooperate with the IMO on its efforts to
227 undertake an analysis of small boats as potential threats to maritime security.
228
229 33. We express support for the important work of the IMO on Voluntary Member
230 State Audit Scheme and urge relevant member economies to ensure active
231 participation aimed at enhancing maritime safety.
232
233 F. Sustainable Transport
234
235 34. We recognize that greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate
236 change present a major global challenge to the environment and the need for
237 transportation to make its contribution to the global response to this challenge. We
238 instruct the Working Group to focus on options to help address emissions from
239 transport without unduly affecting the safe and efficient carriage of people and cargo
240 and growth of the transport industry
241
242 35. We note the progress made by the Ministerial Conference on Global
243 Environment and Energy in Transport (MEET) held in Tokyo, Japan in January 2009.
244
245 36. APEC Ministers express our concern with the recently adopted EU Emissions
246 Trading Scheme (ETS) directive. This directive goes against the decisions taken by
247 ICAO, which call on states to refrain from unilateral actions, and contradicts the
248 adopted norms and principles of international law and the spirit of the Chicago
249 Convention on Civil Aviation. APEC Transportation Ministers prefer a global solution
250 to a global problem, and advocates the work through the Group on International
251 Aviation Climate Change (GIACC) at ICAO to address international aviation
252 emissions. 4
253
254 37. The Working Group should continue the work of the Aviation Emissions Task
255 Force (AETF) to further advance activities such as the Asia and South Pacific
256 Initiative to Reduce Emissions (ASPIRE), exchanges of information on efficient Air
257 Traffic Management (ATM) and progress thus far accomplished in reducing
258 environmental impact; encourage the continued implementation of Performance
259 Based Navigation (PBN) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-
260 B), both of which aim to result in more efficient fuel utilization.
261
262 38. Realizing the need to identify opportunities for the development and
263 promotion of energy efficient transport policies and practices, we instruct the Working
264 Group to take an active role in collaborating with the APEC Energy Working Group
265 (EWG) in providing and adopting energy efficient processes and technologies and
266 the APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) to promote
267 the development of next generation biofuels made from non-food materials.
268
4
Proposal from Russia (as of 4/27/09). Supported by Air Experts Group. To be further discussed by HODs with
their Ministers for further discussion in the Ministers’ Retreat under Theme 3.
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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
269 39. In our desire to assist in addressing the issue of green house gas emissions
270 from transportation sources by increasing fuel efficiency, we instruct the Working
271 Group to identify opportunities for the development and promotion of fuel efficient
272 transport policies and practices, including the use of alternative fuels for
273 transportation vehicles and aircraft and to identify barriers to implement such policies
274 and practices and determining appropriate actions to be taken. Fuel-efficient policies
275 and practices will assist APEC member economies to achieve sustainable economic
276 and environmental benefits. In this respect, we request member economies to
277 share information on their practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all
278 modes of transportation.
279
280 G. Industry Involvement
281
282 40. Having recognized the important role of the private sector in the realization of
283 our current and future initiatives, we instruct the Working Group to broaden its
284 partnership with industry. We support the concept of Corporate Social
285 Responsibility (CSR) and require the Working Group to include CSR in its work.
286
287 41. We recognize the importance of transport infrastructure as an essential
288 element in supporting economic activity and growth. While recognizing the special
289 role of the public sector at this time of financial and economic crisis, we welcome the
290 agreement of Finance Ministers to support greater integration in the area of Public-
291 Private Partnerships (PPP) which can be used over the longer term to meet the
292 transportation infrastructure requirements of member economies.
293
294 H. Information Sharing
295
296 42. Information sharing is one of the most effective means for learning best
297 practices. In enhancing better cooperation and partnership between and among
298 member economies, we instruct the Working Group to consider the possibility of
299 providing a platform for a virtual forum in real time through the Working Group
300 website with linkages to web-based tools available from international organizations.
301
302 43. Skills are important to support the development of effective transportation
303 systems. The continuous upgrade of the ability of the workforce to develop, manage
304 and safely implement existing and emerging technologies is essential to the on-going
305 facilitation of trade in the APEC region. We instruct the Working Group to promote
306 the institutionalization, dissemination and implementation of best practices and
307 technologies to enable more people to benefit from such technologies.
308
309 44. We also desire broader cooperation arrangements for sharing best practices
310 on the latest development in ports, airports and land transportation safety, security
311 and port capacity and addressing congestion issues for intermodal cargo movement.
312
313
314
315
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6TH APEC TRANSPORTATION MINISTERIAL MEETING
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Manila, Philippines, 27-29 April 2009
316 Closing Statement
317
318 44. Over the next two years, we are mindful that, as our work progresses, the
319 transportation sector will continue to face challenges as a result of the continuing
320 changes in the global economic and political landscape. We therefore recognize the
321 need for seamless, sustainable and open transport systems to facilitate trade and
322 investment. We remain committed, as a community, to continue to assist each other
323 and cooperate on issues of mutual concern. We agree to meet again in 2011 to
324 continue to work towards the achievement of the APEC goals.
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