An alliance of the world's top four air express companies arrived in Beijing yesterday to present their objections to a proposed law governing the postal service in China.
The alliance, comprising Federal Express (FedEx), DHL, UPS and TNT, said a plan to impose a tax on them to support the growth of China Post was unfair and should be eliminated.
The presidents of the four carriers were scheduled to meet yesterday with the Vice-Minister of Commerce, Liao Xiaoqi, to discuss their concerns.
'It's the first time we've gotten together and we wanted to make sure the issues are aired,' FedEx president (Asia-Pacific) David Cunningham said.
The alliance, called the Conference of Asia Pacific Express Carriers (Capec), has been rebuffed in attempting to meet China Post.
The long-standing dispute moved a step forward in November last year after the major international express carriers accepted a new licensing system by China Post, giving the Chinese agency the exclusive right to deliver government and military documents.
However, further clarification of the rights of both sides is expected in an amendment law, although the timing for this is unclear.
