The antitrust immunity enjoyed by the ocean freight industry should be eliminated.

That is the stance recently taken by a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The report offers three recommendations to improve the situation: allow shippers the freedom to negotiate rates individually with ocean carriers, allow carriers and shippers to protect service rates, and allow carriers to pursue agreements with other carriers as long as it does not interfere with competition.

"The report proposes that individual contracts should be available to shippers and carriers throughout the OECD, and that where these contain confidential items, this confidentiality should be protected through contract law, statuary provisions or both," said Herwig Schlogl, OECD deputy secretary, in a statement.

The report recommends member countries, when reviewing the application of competition policy in the liner shipping sector, should seriously consider removing anti-trust exemptions for price-fixing and rate discussions.

While this report is not likely the final answer that shippers are looking for on the issue, it is a sign that the issue is on the radar.

dhannon@cahners.com