February 7, 2013 Ms. Susan N. Biniaz Deputy Legal Adviser International Affairs U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C.

20520 Re: United States ratification of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (the Rotterdam Rules) Dear Ms. Biniaz: The undersigned organizations represent U.S. importers and exporters, the carriers that connect those importers and exporters with Americas trading partners around the world, and American admiralty law practitioners. Our organizations served on the U.S. delegation during the seven-year UNCITRAL negotiations leading to the signing of the Rotterdam Rules, and we strongly support prompt U.S. ratification of the treaty. We are quite concerned that the delay of more than three years after the United States signed the treaty is undermining international support for the treaty and is causing the international maritime community to doubt the United States intentions. The United States took a leadership position during the negotiations and achieved most of its objectives in the final text. Now our negotiating partners are waiting to see if the United States will follow through on its stated intention to ratify the treaty. Many of our colleagues in other countries have told us that their governments will not ratify unless and until the United States does so. Unless the United States demonstrates its support for the Rotterdam Rules, we risk losing a rare opportunity to modernize and harmonize this important area of international transport law. Transmittal of the treaty to the Senate is a needed demonstration of that support and of the treatys viability. We understand that the draft ratification package was transmitted to the Departments Office of Treaty Affairs for its review late last year by the Office of Private International Law. We urge you to expedite this review and approval of the package by the State Department as soon as possible so that it may be sent to the White House for transmittal to the Senate for its advice and consent. Thank you for your help in this matter. We look forward to continuing our support for the successful U.S. ratification of the Rotterdam Rules. Sincerely,

Bruce J. Carlton President and CEO The National Industrial Transportation League

Christopher Koch President and CEO World Shipping Council

Rich McArdle Senior Vice President UPS International Government Affairs

David Short Senior Counsel, Trade & International Affairs FedEx Express

Robert B. Parrish President The Maritime Law Association of the United States Cc: Krishna R.Kris Urs, Paul B. Dean, Keith N. Loken, Michael S. Coffee and Steven M. Miller