TIR as a Complementary Governance Mechanism in Seaport–Dry Port Multimodal Corridors under the Maritime Silk Road

Abstract

This paper conceptualises the Transports Internationaux Routiers
(TIR) system as a complementary governance mechanism in seaport–dry port
multimodal corridors under the Maritime Silk Road. The paper argues that TIR can
alleviate selected coordination failures at customs, institutional, digital and resilience
interfaces. The research constructs a corridor-level analytical framework and
qualitatively anchors the analysis in China–Central Asia corridor developments. The
paper makes three contributions. To begin with, it outlines the boundary conditions in
which TIR can be beneficial to seaport-dry port systems. Second, it clarifies the
reason why TIR is to be conceptualized as an interface-governance tool that is
complementary to maritime and rail scale economies. Third, it elucidates managerial
implications for the planners of the corridors, port authorities, dry ports, customs
administrations and platform operators who aim to achieve scale, reliability and
flexibility in the new Eurasian corridors.