Mario Cordero, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission
Mario Cordero, Chairman of the US Federal Maritime Commission, to explore evolving regional maritime dynamics in his keynote speech at 16th pan-Americas container supply chain event in Mexico, October 11-13
London 20.7.2016 – The evolving dynamics of the US-Latin trade relationship give “cause for optimism” and maritime will be key to realizing the “tremendous potential” for economic growth between the two American continents, including the new opportunities arising from an expanded Panama Canal, according to Mario Cordero, Chairman of the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The head of the FMC, which is responsible for regulating the US international ocean transportation system, has just been confirmed as keynote speaker at the 16th TOC Americas, the annual event for container supply chain, shipping and port operations across the region, taking place this October 11-13 in Mexico.
‘Adapting to new Trade, Transport and Supply Chain Dynamics across the Americas’ is the theme for the 2016 event, which provides a chance for cargo owners, ocean carriers, ports and terminals, inland operations, regulators and other key stakeholders to explore the significant changes resulting from the expanded Panama Canal, larger vessels and shipping alliances, sluggish global trade and disruptive technologies, among other key factors.
“Identifying policies that promote economic growth between the American continents is a priority we should all share, ” stated Chairman Cordero. He will use his keynote speech on 11 October to discuss key issues for maritime and port operations to support economic growth across the region and especially in north-south trades. “Economic ties have strengthened between the US and the region of Latin America, with an eye towards forming a true economic alliance across the Western Hemisphere, ” he noted. “In line with that goal, free trade agreements in the region increased between 2014 and 2015. Trade between the US and South America has comprised about 58 percent of container cargo from the region.”
Added Chairman Cordero: “Further benefitting trade is the expansion of the Panama Canal, which will increase cargo flow between the East Coast of the United States and ports to the south of the United States. The new dimensions of the Canal’s locks can serve all but the largest ships in the world’s container fleet. This will provide ocean carriers with more routing choices which should yield options that will help shipping companies to offer service choices that guarantee reliability and will ultimately benefit the American consumer.”
The readiness of US East, South East and Gulf ports to handle the new neo-Panamax vessels and the impact on vessel sizes and liner networks serving North and Latin America have been the subject of fierce debate at TOC Americas over the past several years, and will be on the agenda again this year as the first real results unfold.
Chairman Cordero was nominated to the FMC in September 2010 and reconfirmed for a second term in 2015. He was appointed to his current position in April 2013 by President Barack Obama. With over 30 years’ experience in legal practice and public service, including eight years on the Board of Harbor Commissioners for the US West Coast Port of Long Beach, and tenure on the Executive Board for the American Association of Port Authorities’ Latin American delegation, he has helped to broaden the role of the US federal agency from overseeing shipping regulation to safeguarding port performance and ensuring the health of the supply chain as a whole.
“Chairman Cordero and the FMC are working hard to create and develop vital dialogue between regulators and private sector stakeholders, and between the maritime and port sectors in the US and Latin America” said Paul Holloway, Event Director, TOC. “In the same way, TOC Americas continues to provide a platform for public and private supply chain members to share expertise and experience and address the key issues facing container supply chain operations across the American continents. We are looking forward to hearing Mario’s insight in these areas at this critical time.”
About TOC Worldwide
For 40 years, TOC Worldwide has provided the market-leading conference and exhibition forums for the global port and terminal industries and their customers. Taking place each year in the world’s four key shipping hubs – Europe, Middle East, Americas and Asia – each TOC is now a complete container supply chain event for its region, bringing together cargo owners, logistics providers, carriers, ports, terminals and other key members of the container supply chain to learn, debate, network and foster new business solutions.
Visit www.toc-events.com
Join the TOCWorldwide Group on LinkedIn
