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Japan plays an important role in the international transport (shipping,
2nd in the world; shipbuilding, 1st in the world; and air transport, 4th among
the IATA member enterprises).
Thus, great is the influence of any change in the international environment
upon our country or the responsibility of our country in the field of international
harmony.
The volume of world crude oil seaborne trade and that of dry cargo decreased
by 8.7% and 4.2%, respectively, in 1975 due to the depression of the world economy.
On the other hand, the supply of tanker tonnage increased by 18.157o over the
preceding year. As the result, there occurred an over tonnage, especially in
tankers (Fig. 2-1-1), and about
14.8% of tankers were moored while the shipping market remained to be sluggish.
Some international agreement is desirable to cope with the problem of over tonnage.
On the other hand, a large change began to take place in the international Shipping
order. For the north-south problem in shipping, namely the national flag discrimination
and increasing demands made by developing countries, we should maintain the
principle of the freedom of shipping, but should also hold some countermeasures
against their policy of giving priority to their national ships.
With the progress of the Conference of the Low of the Sea, there have ocurred
a problem of adjustment between the movement of the developing countries to
expand their jurisdiction and the principle of the freedom of navigation.
The expansion of territorial waters and the establishment of exclusive economic
water areas will bring about problems of marine guarding and oceanic pollution
etc. The advancement of East European shipping has also become a threatening
element.
It is essential to secure the safety of navigation through the Malacca Singapore
strait. Japan had a hydrographical survey in cooperation with the three coastal
countries. Japan should act carefully for the movement of these three countries
to regulate the navigation.
The Shipbuilding Committee of OECD has been engaged in studies on securing
normal competing conditions, including uniformalization of export credit conditions
and reduction of government assistances etc., among advanced countries. In May,
1976, it agreed on general guiding principles of countermeasures against recession,
including the decrease of shipbuilding capacity and the suppression of new construction
of shipbuilding facilities. Each country agreed to take adequate measures according
to these principles.
With developing countries, the Asia and Pacific Ocean Shipbuilding Specialist
Conference has been established.
Japan has been negotiating to review Civil Air Transport Agreement between
Japan and U.S.A. to correct the imbalance of benefits.
On the other hand, the development of international air transport in Japan
has been endangered by various factors, including airport capacity reaching
the upper limit, aircraft landing and taking-off regulations because of serious
noise problems. And presently it is difficult even to accumulate air talks with
the foreign countries. Japan must construct and improve international airport
as soon as possible. Problems of fares etc. have been studied not only at IATA,
but also at ICAO.
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