0 Evaluation and Comparison of Globally-Important Inland Waterway

can limit growth. China's investments in intermodal facilities on the Yangtze could further enhance its use, particularly connecting to other Chinese cities and to railways that lead to Europe. China's involvement in the Mekong does not appear to prioritize freight shipments, but has clear geopolitical implications. Europe's already-developed systems are not a threat, but can be a model for prioritizing reliability and connectedness on the rivers.

If global investment in waterways-based trade outpaces similar investments in the United States it could have negative implications for economic competitiveness. To the extent that underinvestment in our waterway system makes it more vulnerable to disruption and less reliable in the service of commercial, governmental and military users, there could also be negative implications for national security. Ensuring sustained and smart investment in its inland wateray network is an important part of fulfilling the United States' multimodal transportation objectives.