Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MELBOURNE11
2009-01-23 05:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Melbourne
Cable title:
PM to Raise Container Security Initiative with President?
how-toVZCZCXRO3162 RR RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHPB DE RUEHBN #0011/01 0230519 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 230519Z JAN 09 FM AMCONSUL MELBOURNE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4860 INFO RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 1512
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000011
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ECON ETRD AS
SUBJECT: PM to Raise Container Security Initiative with President?
MELBOURNE 00000011 001.2 OF 002
Ref:
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000011
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ECON ETRD AS
SUBJECT: PM to Raise Container Security Initiative with President?
MELBOURNE 00000011 001.2 OF 002
Ref:
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) According to Port Melbourne's CEO Stephen Bradford, Prime
Minister Rudd may raise the logistics of DHS' Container Security
Initiative with the President during their early interactions.
Melbourne is Australia's busiest port and has seen a clear drop in
container traffic since November. Bradford expects a deeper decline
in January as the lunar New Year holiday compounds slowing growth in
China, Australia's primary export destination. Bradford was
optimistic, however, that container traffic would pick up again
after the "crisis of confidence" passes. End Summary.
Container Security Initiative
--------------
2. (SBU) Melbourne Port Corporation CEO Stephen Bradford told post
on January 22 that he was somewhat apprehensive about U.S.
legislation requiring selected containers to be x-rayed prior to
entering the United States and believes that Prime Minister Rudd may
bring concerns about this initiative to the attention of the
President during their early interactions. (Comment: We believe
Bradford was referring to DHS' Container Security Initiative - CSI -
which has not yet been fully implemented in Australia. End
comment.)
3. (SBU) Bradford made reference to a 2011-2012 mandatory
implementation date for ports around the world, including Melbourne
and stated that he was uncertain whether screening would take place
in Australia or in the United States. He went on to say that any
costs generated by the screening process would inevitably be passed
on to downstream consumers.
Traffic Slows in Melbourne's Port
--------------
4. (SBU) Melbourne's port, which handles approximately 36 percent of
Australia's trade, has seen reduced container traffic since
November. According to Bradford, growth in the number of containers
handled by the Port of Melbourne has hovered around 8.5 percent
annually. He expects this to drop off to 4.5 percent this fiscal
year, which ends in June. Automobile imports have fallen off by
approximately one-third since October. Bradford remained
optimistic, however, and believes that growth will pick up again
within two or three months once the "crisis in consumer confidence"
sputters out.
5. (SBU) Exports to the United States have remained steadily at 16
percent of Melbourne's port traffic over the years and are comprised
of consumables such as meat, wine and vegetables. Bradford noted
that he has not noticed a significant rise in the volume of exports
to the United States since the free trade agreement was signed in
2004. (Comment: The U.S. share of Australia's overall exports has
declined since 2004. Given that exports to the United States have
remained at 16 percent of Port Melbourne's total, the city's
relative share of U.S. exports vis-a-vis other Australian ports has
almost certainly increased since 2004. End comment.)
China
--------------
6. (SBU) China is Port Melbourne's largest export destination.
Butter, cheese and other consumables make up the bulk of these
exports; ore is exported primarily from Western Australian ports.
Bradford expects a sharp decline in January exports due to the
traditionally slow Chinese New Year period. He has heard from many
sources that Chinese companies are planning on extending the New
Year holiday for up to three weeks in order to avoid cutting back
staff as Chinese growth slows.
7. (SBU) Bradford, who worked for an iron ore company for several
years, does not believe that Australian mining firms will capitulate
to Chinese demands to re-price ore contracts quarterly. He said
that this would create too much uncertainty for mining companies to
make capital investment and other long-term business decisions.
While he believes that 2009 iron ore contract prices will be
significantly lower than last year's prices, he stated that mining
companies will not agree to re-price the contracts to the January 1,
2009 effective date that Chinese firms are pushing for.
Comment
--------------
MELBOURNE 00000011 002.2 OF 002
8. (SBU) While Bradford does not speak for the Australian government
on the issue of the Container Security Initiative, he is the chief
of Australia's busiest port and no doubt wields influence on
Australian maritime trade policy. He did not oppose the initiative,
but rather expressed concern over the logistics of its
implementation and eventual costs. Bradford was somber in his
assessment of the global slowdown's impact on the volume of traffic
passing through his port, but was optimistic that container traffic
would pick up again by April. Post believes Bradford's expectation
of a quick recovery in consumer confidence to be overly optimistic.
THURSTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ECON ETRD AS
SUBJECT: PM to Raise Container Security Initiative with President?
MELBOURNE 00000011 001.2 OF 002
Ref:
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) According to Port Melbourne's CEO Stephen Bradford, Prime
Minister Rudd may raise the logistics of DHS' Container Security
Initiative with the President during their early interactions.
Melbourne is Australia's busiest port and has seen a clear drop in
container traffic since November. Bradford expects a deeper decline
in January as the lunar New Year holiday compounds slowing growth in
China, Australia's primary export destination. Bradford was
optimistic, however, that container traffic would pick up again
after the "crisis of confidence" passes. End Summary.
Container Security Initiative
--------------
2. (SBU) Melbourne Port Corporation CEO Stephen Bradford told post
on January 22 that he was somewhat apprehensive about U.S.
legislation requiring selected containers to be x-rayed prior to
entering the United States and believes that Prime Minister Rudd may
bring concerns about this initiative to the attention of the
President during their early interactions. (Comment: We believe
Bradford was referring to DHS' Container Security Initiative - CSI -
which has not yet been fully implemented in Australia. End
comment.)
3. (SBU) Bradford made reference to a 2011-2012 mandatory
implementation date for ports around the world, including Melbourne
and stated that he was uncertain whether screening would take place
in Australia or in the United States. He went on to say that any
costs generated by the screening process would inevitably be passed
on to downstream consumers.
Traffic Slows in Melbourne's Port
--------------
4. (SBU) Melbourne's port, which handles approximately 36 percent of
Australia's trade, has seen reduced container traffic since
November. According to Bradford, growth in the number of containers
handled by the Port of Melbourne has hovered around 8.5 percent
annually. He expects this to drop off to 4.5 percent this fiscal
year, which ends in June. Automobile imports have fallen off by
approximately one-third since October. Bradford remained
optimistic, however, and believes that growth will pick up again
within two or three months once the "crisis in consumer confidence"
sputters out.
5. (SBU) Exports to the United States have remained steadily at 16
percent of Melbourne's port traffic over the years and are comprised
of consumables such as meat, wine and vegetables. Bradford noted
that he has not noticed a significant rise in the volume of exports
to the United States since the free trade agreement was signed in
2004. (Comment: The U.S. share of Australia's overall exports has
declined since 2004. Given that exports to the United States have
remained at 16 percent of Port Melbourne's total, the city's
relative share of U.S. exports vis-a-vis other Australian ports has
almost certainly increased since 2004. End comment.)
China
--------------
6. (SBU) China is Port Melbourne's largest export destination.
Butter, cheese and other consumables make up the bulk of these
exports; ore is exported primarily from Western Australian ports.
Bradford expects a sharp decline in January exports due to the
traditionally slow Chinese New Year period. He has heard from many
sources that Chinese companies are planning on extending the New
Year holiday for up to three weeks in order to avoid cutting back
staff as Chinese growth slows.
7. (SBU) Bradford, who worked for an iron ore company for several
years, does not believe that Australian mining firms will capitulate
to Chinese demands to re-price ore contracts quarterly. He said
that this would create too much uncertainty for mining companies to
make capital investment and other long-term business decisions.
While he believes that 2009 iron ore contract prices will be
significantly lower than last year's prices, he stated that mining
companies will not agree to re-price the contracts to the January 1,
2009 effective date that Chinese firms are pushing for.
Comment
--------------
MELBOURNE 00000011 002.2 OF 002
8. (SBU) While Bradford does not speak for the Australian government
on the issue of the Container Security Initiative, he is the chief
of Australia's busiest port and no doubt wields influence on
Australian maritime trade policy. He did not oppose the initiative,
but rather expressed concern over the logistics of its
implementation and eventual costs. Bradford was somber in his
assessment of the global slowdown's impact on the volume of traffic
passing through his port, but was optimistic that container traffic
would pick up again by April. Post believes Bradford's expectation
of a quick recovery in consumer confidence to be overly optimistic.
THURSTON