Van Miert gives FEFC April deadline. (EC Competition Directorate Commissioner Karel Van Miert; Far Eastern Freight Conference)

Member lines have only three months to come up with alternatives for inland rate setting.

Members of the Far Eastern Freight Conference seeking to fix through rates jointly are to submit notifications to the European Commission's competition directorate by late April.

In a terse, to-the-point letter dated Jan. 26 competition commissioner Karel Van Miert gave FEFC members three months to come up with alternative arrangements. He left no doubt where carriers should seek guidance on how to structure new partnerships.

"In view of the political undertaking given by the commission in its report to the Council of 8 June 1994, the commission would like to receive …