Although the international market for maritime transportation services is relatively open for fair competition, there are instances in which governments impose anti-competitive barriers that restrict market access for U.S. maritime interests. Such restrictions add to costs, limit revenues, impede efficient operations and negatively impact the profitability of the U.S. maritime industry. Many of these restrictions can be relieved through direct negotiation, and sometimes rely on statutes administered by the Federal Maritime Commission to impose trade remedies. In some instances, it may be necessary to negotiate bilateral agreements with foreign governments managing these key open markets. Such agreements may also be necessary with non-market economies.

Bilateral Agreements include direct contacts with foreign governments or groups within foreign countries on specific problems affecting the maritime industry and can begin with letter exchange (signifying soft agreements and the intent to negotiate) and/or more in-depth consultations. The U.S. conducts bilateral maritime agreements only in rare instances where circumstances warrant such action. However, the U.S. monitors bilateral maritime and trade agreements between other countries to ensure that they do not impair U.S. market access.

The few U.S. maritime agreements currently in effect are with Brazil, China, Korea, and Russia. See below for details on key international agreements and negotiation artifacts.

Brazil

The current U.S.-Brazil Maritime Agreement represents a succession of bilateral maritime agreements dating to the 1970s. The heart of the agreement is to ensure equal access for each country’s national-flag carriers to the other country’s government-controlled cargo. Brazil has historically designated a large share of its foreign trade in commercial goods to be government cargoes.

• U.S. / Brazilian Maritime Bilateral Agreement
  • English Version
  • Portuguese Version

• U.S. / Brazilian Consultations
  • Brasilia 2004

China

A current U.S.-China Maritime Agreement is extended automatically for successive one-year periods. The agreement addresses U.S. carriers’ rights to open branch offices throughout China and assures China of continued open access to U.S. markets.

• U.S. / Chinese Maritime Bilateral Agreement
  • English Version

• U.S. / Chinese Consultations
  • Los Angeles 2016
    • 2016 US – China Maritime Consultative Meeting Minutes and Work Plan
  • Suzhou 2015
    • 2015 US – China Maritime Consultative Meeting Minutes
    • 2015 Ports and Inland Waterways Meeting – 2016 Work Plan
  • Chicago 2013
    • 2013 US – China Maritime Consultative Meeting Minutes
    • 2013 Ports and Inland Waterways Meeting – 2014 Work Plan
  • Dalian 2010
  • Memphis 2008
  • Shanghai 2007
  • Washington, D.C. 2006
  • San Francisco 2003

European Union (EU)

The US and the European Union (EU) have a Short Sea Shipping agreement to promote sustainable and competitive freight and passenger transport.  This agreement affirms the desire of both sides to have regular meetings to exchange information and to share ideas and best practices.

• U.S. / EU Memorandum of Cooperation on Short Sea Shipping
  • Brussels, Belgium - 2022

• U.S. / EU Consultations
  • Washington, DC - 2020

• U.S. / EU Maritime Bilateral Agreement
  •  U.S. / EU Bilateral Agreement - 2011

Japan

The U.S. and Japan carried out an exchange of letters on port services in November 1997 that constitutes an official agreement still in effect and resulted in a series of consultations to exchange views on issues of mutual interest and potential areas of cooperation.

• U.S. / Japan Exchange of Letters
  • Exchange of Letters with Japan and Related Documents

• U.S. / Japanese Consultations
  • Washington, D.C. 2019
  • Tokyo 2018
  • Washington, D.C. 2016
  • Tokyo 2015
  • Washington, D.C. 2014
  • Washington, D.C. 1997

Korea 

The United States and Korea have held a series of bilateral discussions regarding maritime issues of mutual interest, with strong focus on mariner training, maritime workforce, and increasing maritime trade. The two countries have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the fields of maritme transport and logistics.

• U.S. / Korea 2019 Maritime Bilateral Agreement
  • English Version

• U.S. / Korea Consultations
  • Minutes of 2024 U.S.-Republic of Korea Bilateral Maritime Discussions
  • Minutes of 2023 U.S.-Republic of Korea Bilateral Maritime Discussions
  • Minutes of 2022 U.S.-Republic of Korea Bilateral Maritime Discussions
  • Minutes of 2019 U.S.-Republic of Korea Bilateral Maritime Discussions
  • Minutes of 2018 U.S.-Republic of Korea Bilateral Maritime Discussions
  • Minutes of 2016 U.S.-Republic of Korea Bilateral Maritime Discussions
  • Minutes of 2015 U.S.-Republic of Korea Bilateral Maritime Discussions

Panama 

The United States and Panama have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, which will enhance cooperation between the two nations, encourage private-sector cooperation and investment, and further mutual economic opportunities.

• U.S. / Panama Memorandum of Cooperation
  • U.S. / Panama Memorandum of Cooperation

• U.S. / Panama Consultations
  • Washington, DC 2018

Vietnam

The United States and Vietnam reached an agreement that allowed U.S. carriers to open wholly owned subsidiaries in Vietnam, thus eliminating the Vietnamese monopoly of maritime trade in the region and strengthening economic relations.

• U.S. / Vietnamese Maritime Bilateral Agreement
  • English Version
  • Vietnamese Version

• U.S. / Vietnamese Consultations
  • Hanoi, 2024
  • Washington, D.C., 2023
  • Washington, D.C., 2019
  • Hanoi, 2018
  • Washington, D.C. 2015
  • Ho Chi Minh 2008
  • Hanoi 2005
  • Washington, D.C. 2005

Other Bilateral Relations and Consultations

• Memorandum of Cooperation with the Philippines