Annex - Provisions on
customs matters relating to international multimodal transport of
goods
The States Parties to this Convention,
Recognising:
(a) That international multimodal transport is one means of
facilitating the orderly expansion of world trade;
(b) The need to stimulate the development of smooth, economic and
efficient multimodal transport services adequate to the
requirements of the trade concerned;
(c) The desirability of ensuring the orderly development of
international multimodal transport in the interest of all countries
and the need to consider the special problems of transit countries;
(d) The desirability of determining certain rules relating to the
carriage of goods by international multimodal transport contracts,
including equitable provisions concerning the liability of
multimodal transport operators;
(e) The need that this Convention should not affect the application
of any international convention or national law relating to the
regulation and control of transport operations;
(f) The right of each State to regulate and control at the national
level multimodal transport operators and operations;
(g) The need to have regard to the special interest and problems of
developing countries, for example, as regards introduction of new
technologies, participation in multimodal services of their
national carriers and operators, cost efficiency thereof and
maximum use of local labour and insurance;
(h) The need to ensure a balance of interests between suppliers and
users of multimodal transport services;
(i) The need to facilitate customs procedures with due
consideration to the problems of transit countries;
Agreeing to the following basic principles:
(a) That a fair balance of interests between developed and
developing countries should be established and an equitable
distribution of activities between these groups of countries should
be attained in international multimodal transport;
(b) That consultation should take place on terms and conditions of
service, both before and after the introduction of any new
technology in the multimodal transport of goods, between the
multimodal transport operator, shippers, shippers' organisations
and appropriate national authorities;
(c) The freedom for shippers to choose between multimodal and
segmented transport services;
(d) That the liability of the multimodal transport operator under
this Convention should be based on the principle of presumed fault
or neglect;
Have decided to conclude a Convention for this purpose and have
thereto agreed as follows: