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3PL Survey Puts Economy and Fuel at Top of List A recent survey of chief executives from 39 of the world's top third-party logistics providers (3PL) shows a tough pricing environment, the slowing economy, pressure from customers to cut costs, and high fuel prices are the biggest worries for companies. Robert Lieb, professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University, who has been compiling this survey since 1990, noted that the economy and fuel costs did not even rate as a concern in previous surveys conducted in 2006 or 2007. The survey also revealed that customers are becoming more interested in lower costs than quality of service. Currently, "there is not much value placed on [service] rather than cost reduction," observed Lieb. France Pledges $549 Million for Electric and Hybrid Cars French President Nicolas Sarkozy this week pledged 400 million euros ($549 million) in state support for the development of electric and hybrid cars. He said during a visit to the Paris Auto Show that the money will be destined "exclusively for the research and development of nonpolluting vehicles" over fours years and would come from funds already earmarked for environmental projects. In addition, Sarkozy said he would call upon other European countries to encourage automakers to take loans from the European Investment Bank to develop lower emission vehicles. Philippines Approves FTA with Japan The Philippine government has voted to approve the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) -- the first bilateral free trade pact for the Philippines. Under the JPEPA, tariffs on 95 percent of Philippine exports to Japan will be eliminated while import duties on industrial goods such as electronics and cars will be phased out within a ten-year period. Supporters of the JPEPA argued that without such a deal, the Philippines would lose out to neighbors like Thailand and Indonesia, which already have their own free trade deals with Japan. In the meantime, Japan is close to concluding a separate free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC economic bloc is comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates DHS to Refocus Container Scanning to High-Risk Corridors The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is changing course on a federal law that requires all ocean containers bound for the U.S. to undergo scanning prior to foreign lading. "The requirement to have 100 percent scanning of containers overseas is not a realistic requirement," Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said in a recent interview. "I think at some point as that deadline approaches, Congress is going to wind up taking a second look at what is realistic." Despite the potential conflict with the law and Congress, the DHS is putting Chertoff's ideas into action, according to Shipping Digest. In August, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it would be canceling a test of 100 percent scanning at the Port of Singapore that was scheduled to begin in the second half of 2008. The port, which handled more than 27 million TEUs last year, was one of just six ports scheduled to participate in Phase 1 of the Secure Freight Initiative, the Department of Homeland Security's feasibility test of 100 percent scanning. "Instead, CBP and the Government of Singapore will work together to explore alternative approaches toward enhancing container and trade security through risk management and a total supply chain security approach," U.S. Customs said in a statement. Based on the results of earlier Secure Freight Initiative data, the agency said it would be taking a new approach to scanning "high-risk trade corridors." India, Brazil, and South Africa Pledge Closer Trade Ties Trade officials from the emerging economies of India, Brazil, and South Africa have set their trade target at $15 billion by 2010, up from around $10 billion a year ago, reports Agence France-Presse. Meanwhile, India's foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee said this week that trade between the three southern hemisphere economies was on the upswing across multiple sectors. "The three countries have taken rapid strides in forging trilateral linkages in a number of key areas including health, agriculture, education, transport, energy, science and technology and IT," he noted. California to Step Up Enforcement of Anti-Idling Law The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has begun dispatching officials throughout the state in an effort to step up enforcement of the agency's anti-idling program, which generally limits idling to five minutes, even if the driver is resting in the sleeper. Regulations limiting idling of on-road commercial diesel engine vehicles to five minutes have been in effect for several years, while rules pertaining to sleeper-berth trucks took effect at the beginning of this year. CARB officials say first-time violators will receive a minimum civil penalty of $300, although subsequent penalties can be from $1,000 to $10,000. Owners, renters, or lessees will be responsible for the penalty. China to Add 33 Million Vehicles to its Roads by 2010 A new report states that China will add 33 million vehicles to its road by 2010, thanks to a growing economy that has created a consumer base with an increasingly higher disposable income and rapid development in road infrastructure. In addition, the report by research firm Companies and Markets estimates that China will produce 7 million more passenger cars this year, with major foreign automakers from the U.S. and Germany leading the production. As for the type of car most preferred by Chinese consumers -- the sedan is the top pick.