AN ASSESSMENT OF NORTH AMERICAN CABOTAGE LAWS: THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS IN CONTAINERS

The word Cabotage describes a transport activity first applied to ocean vessel shipping, specifically, the pick-up and delivery of goods along a coastline. These regulations have been a part of North American history since 1651, with the implementation of the Navigation Acts. Today, the Canada Customs Act regulates carriage of all domestic cargo by the different conveyances available to shippers. The same is true in the U.S.; cabotage regulations are outlined in customs laws. While these laws are in place to protect domestic carriers from international competition, changes in the global market place, resulting from deregulation and shifting trade patterns, justify the need to revisit the effects of cabotage regulations on efficiency and economic growth.