About WTSA


The Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement is a research and discussion forum of 11 major ocean container shipping lines that carry cargo from ports and inland points in the U.S. to destinations throughout Asia.

WTSA member carriers are authorized under the applicable shipping laws of U.S. and Asian governments to:

• Meet, exchange market information
  and jointly conduct market research
  
  
• Represent carrier interests in consultations
  with government regulatory bodies and with
  designated shipper organizations
  
  
• Develop voluntary, non-binding guidelines
  for rates and charges
  
  
• Discuss ways members can manage costs
  and improve efficiency
  
  
• Establish common terms of service and standards
  for certain documentation, information systems
  development and other activities in the public interest,
  also on a voluntary, non-binding basis.
  
  

History and Purpose

WTSA was established in 1990 and, over time, replaced a more rigid rate conference system in the U.S.-Asia market. It reflects an evolutionary process in liner shipping, from a regulated common carrier system focused on point-to-point transportation, to a more vertically integrated system offering customized, value-added logistics services.

Rate conferences and agreements have existed in the U.S. since 1916. Earlier conferences typically included major carriers in a trade lane, and were granted antitrust immunity to exchange market information and jointly set freight rates. Rates were adopted by majority vote but were binding on the full membership. The conference maintained a joint tariff and negotiated service contracts on behalf of members.

Non-conference or independent lines, typically newer market entrants building their services, used these enforced conference prices as benchmarks to set their own rates, usually a fixed percentage lower.

By the 1980s, ocean transportation was becoming more differentiated. Shippers in certain commodity or market segments wanted more sophisticated service options door to door, time-definite delivery; specialized equipment and handling; valued-added warehousing and other services. Others remained focused on shipping at the lowest possible per unit price. Routing, schedule and cargo handling requirements became more specific.

Carriers needed an ability to respond quickly to changing market demand, and greater flexibility to offer individualized service and pricing as part of a long-term customer relationship. Shipping laws were relaxed in 1984 and 1998 to encourage such individual, confidential carrier-shipper relationships. Discussion agreements such as WTSA have become more common as these changes in the law have taken place.

WTSA carriers discuss trade conditions and agree on the need for common, recommended pricing and service goals. Adoption of policy guidelines requires a unanimous vote. But at the end of the day it is up to individual carriers to decide on a customer-by-customer basis whether to implement a guideline wholly, in part or not at all in their confidential service contract negotiations.


Scope

WTSAs activities extend to the second largest ocean container trade lane in the world, with some 1.7 million 40-foot containers shipped annually. Countries included in WTSAs scope are the U.S., Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Russian Far East.