The International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) is optimistic that the new open skies agreement between the EU and US could help accelerate a bi-lateral security agreement between the two blocks to bring

an end to transfer liquid/gel confiscations.
IAADFS Executive Director Michael Payne said that while open skies obviously deals with different aviation issues, some of the principals involved in these discussions are the same. He said this could help lead to a simplified form of bi-lateral agreement, or memorandum of understanding between the EU and US.
?The TSA are close to the point where they actually want to train agents on the use of bags, so I am trying to get an order run big enough so I can give them a lot of samples to use. So obviously their thought process is directed towards getting ready to make this happen and I think the EU and the US might be the easiest first step.
?If the EU and US can bring it together, it ought to involve Canada pretty quickly and some other large countries. So yes, I am optimistic. Hopefully this will set a footprint yardstick for others to follow. That has been our focus since August frankly, to try and get those two spheres in line with everything. The bag has always been kind of a focal point, but it is just a component, although a relevant component.
‘These two entities should be able to agree because their security supply chain channels are probably as strong as anywhere else.’