The Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Having recognized:
a. that international multimodal transport is one means of facilitating the expansion of international trade among the members of ASEAN as well as between a Member Country and third countries;
b. the need to stimulate the development of smooth, economic and efficient multimodal transport services adequate to the requirements of international trade;
c. the desirability of adopting certain rules relating to the carriage of goods by international multimodal transport contracts, including provisions concerning the liability of multimodal transport operators;
d. the need to create a balance of interests between users and suppliers of international transport services; and
e. the need that this Agreement should not affect the national law relating to regulations and control of unimodal transport operations
Having also recognized paragraph 3 of Article I of the Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation signed on 28 January 1992 in Singapore, that, in the implementation of economic arrangements, two or more Member States may proceed first if other Member States are not ready to implement these arrangements.
