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Appendix B: Team Members and Affiliations

Questions for Mercosur Officials

  1. Please discuss how Mercosur policies are formulated and implemented. What are current freight policies as they relate to freight movement within the Mercosur market area? As they relate to trade with non-Mercosur nations? As they specifically relate to trade with North America?
  2. What were the major freight-related challenges faced by the Mercosur during its creation (e.g., institutional relationships, regulatory consistency, financial needs, environmental policies, operational strategies, etc.)? Has the existence of Mercosur changed policies or operating considerations for freight movement among member nations? If so, how?
  3. What do you see as common points of interest between the Mercosur and NAFTA nations? Are new or stronger hemispheric relationships needed to deal with future freight needs?
  4. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, much discussion has been generated about container security in particular and ports security in general, not only in the United States but also throughout the world. What measures have been taken or are being considered in maritime security within Mercosur?
  5. What has been the effect of Mercosur policies (e.g., the removal of trade barriers and tariffs) on the amount and type of freight shipped and on the method of shipment?
  6. What regulatory or operational reforms have been considered and/or implemented at highvolume freight border crossings? Does Mercosur
    monitor what other countries are doing about new approaches for handling freight movements across borders? Does Mercosur have interest in the application of intelligent transportation system technologies for improving border crossings?
  7. What issues do you see challenging freight movement within the Mercosur market? What major changes from the freight trends of the past 25 years are you expecting over the next 25 years? What are the major driving forces (for example, time-sensitive delivery and e-commerce) behind these trends?

Questions for National Government Officials

  1. What have been the trends in your governmental financing of freight-related transportation infrastructure? For example, what has been the investment history in ports, airports, inland waterways, roads, freight terminals, etc.?
  2. How are freight facilities that have international significance financed? What types of government subsidies are provided for capital improvements and operations of freight facilities (rail, aviation, water, trucking, freight intermodal, etc.)?
  3. What has been the effect of globalization of the marketplace on the freight industry in your country? What have been the corresponding effects on your country's transportation system?
  4. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, much discussion has been generated about container security in particular and ports security in general, not only in the United States but also throughout the world. What measures have been taken or are being considered in maritime security by your country?
  5. How are investments in freight facilities evaluated in the context of their role in international trade? For example, are benefit-cost analyses used in such evaluations? If so, how are benefits assessed?
  6. How are local, provincial, national, and international communities and groups incorporated into the planning process for freight facilities improvements that have international impacts (such as port facilities)? How is planning and implementation done for multination transportation corridors?
  7. Do binational, trinational, or multinational committees or task forces that have official authorization from their respective governments exist to deal with freight issues such as standardization, regulations, customs, etc?
  8. How are freight movement considerations incorporated into the planning for major highways and rail infrastructure? Does your government monitor the performance of the transportation system to see how the system performs with respect to freight movement? If so, what performance measures or indicators are used?
  9. Have increasing freight volumes led to innovative and creative uses of transportation infrastructure, e.g., freight-only highway lanes, pricing schemes, time-of-day use and bans, etc.? How are competing interests between passenger and freight use of the transportation system dealt with? Do passenger railroads have a long-term strategy that includes a potentially larger role for freight movement?
  10. What major changes from the freight trends of the past 10 years are you expecting over the next 10 years? What are the driving forces behind these trends?
    through your facility changed over the past 10 years (by mode, if appropriate)? Specifically, has the creation of common trade markets (such as NAFTA or Mercosur) caused significant changes in freight movement and/or in the way you view your business? If so, how?

Questions for Transportation Facility Operators

  1. What has been the effect of the changes in trade barriers and tariffs on the amount and type of freight shipped and on the method of shipment? How do differing regulatory and taxation policies among nations affect logistics decisions?
  2. What types of problems in handling freight do you experience at your facility?
  3. How are local, provincial, national, and international communities and groups incorporated into the planning process for freight facility improvements that have international impacts (such as port facilities)? What is your involvement in planning national transportation investments?
  4. How are investments in freight facilities evaluated in the context of their role in international trade? For example, are benefit-cost analyses used in such evaluations? If so, how are benefits assessed?
  5. What advanced technologies have proven most useful in enhancing the productivity of freight movement at your facility? In particular, how have such technologies been used to improve landside access to your facility? What has been your role and that of the national government in fostering such technology applications? What future technology applications will receive increasing attention from government and industry?
  6. How are the rapid changes in Internet-based logistics affecting the movement of freight in your market area, and in particular the freight using your facility?
  7. What major changes from the freight trends of the past 10 years are you expecting over the next 10 years? What are the major driving forces behind these trends?
  8. What has been the effect of larger and deeper draft ships on port business? Has this effect changed the distribution of freight movement 1. How has the movement of freight movement among various ports?

Questions for Industry/Shippers

  1. Has the existence of trade common markets (e.g., NAFTA or Mercosur) changed your (or your industry's) policies or operating considerations for freight movement? If so, how?
  2. What has been the effect of policies such as the removal of trade barriers and lowering of tariffs on the amount and type of freight shipped and on the method of shipment? What do you consider the single biggest benefit from trade common markets for freight operations? What do you consider to be the most significant remaining barrier to more efficient freight operations within Latin America?
  3. What major changes from the freight trends of the past 10 years are you expecting over the next 10 years? What are the major driving forces behind these trends?
  4. How are freight facilities having international significance financed? Does the national government play a role in securing necessary financing? What types of government subsidies are provided for capital improvements and operations of freight facilities (rail, aviation, water, trucking, intermodal, etc.)?
  5. What role does the private sector play in identifying important investments and desired policies and in funding projects?
  6. What advanced technologies have proven most useful in enhancing freight productivity? What future technology applications will likely receive increasing attention from government and industry?
  7. What effect do road congestion and transportation bottlenecks have on logistics and equipment usage? Does congestion on the road network act as a pricing mechanism to encourage the use of alternative modes for access to ports?
  8. What has been the effect of globalization of the economy on your business? What has been the effect on Latin America's transportation system?
  9. How are the rapid changes in Internet-based logistics affecting your business? The movement of freight in the Western Hemisphere? Has the rapid integration of Internet-based logistics into business decisionmaking had any impact on the location of your business activities?
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