Following the example of its counterpart in the westbound transpacific trades, the eastbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) has created a shipper advisory board. The body will provide a forum for collaborating between TSA members and shippers in the trade. The group called its action a "logical extension" of numerous meetings that TSA has hosted between shippers and carriers since 2007. The panel is intended to provide a platform for senior-level dialogue to address the concerns of transpacific shippers and carriers. Participating shippers represent the major retail market segments of the Asia-U.S. trades, including apparel and footwear, sporting goods, consumer electronics, home furnishings, toys, general department store merchandise and transportation intermediaries. Key issues singled out for discussion by advisory board members include carrier service quality, "slow steaming" of vessels, port infrastructure and the contracting process. TSA consists of 15 container lines in the trade.
