OTHER NEWS - April 21, 1992

Maritime Task Force Established: With U.S.-flagged foreign trade commercial carriers threatening to re-register their ships under the flags of other nations to get out from under burdensome taxes and regulations, the government has established a high-ranking task force to study how to make the fleet more competitive. The Working Group on Commercial Maritime Policy, headed by Transportation Secretary Andrew Card, is expected to report its findings by May 22. Among other issues, the group will examine the roles of the commercial and government-owned fleets in meeting the nation’s defense-related requirements. In addition to Cabinet members, the group includes Colin L. Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Trade Representative Carla Anderson Hills.