By John Kemp LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - Embargoes are rarely effective in compelling a change in diplomatic behavior because they create substantial incentives to circumvent the blockade by switching trade, building indigenous capacity or changing technology. The United States this month announced sweeping restrictions on the purchase of telecommunications equipment … [Read more...]
Gloomier Picture for Global Container Port Throughput as Tariff Wars Begin to Bite
By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) - Alphaliner has slashed its global container throughput growth estimate for this year to just 2.5% from 3.6%. A weak first quarter and expected headwinds from the US-China trade war are taking their toll, said the consultant. The downgraded growth prediction is edging closer to the negative view of expansion expressed by Maersk Line, which … [Read more...]
Amid Trade War, Busiest U.S. Port Readies for Robots
By Romy Varghese (Bloomberg) -- Pier 400 in Los Angeles is North America’s largest shipping terminal. More than 1,700 trucks pass through, on average per day, even in the middle of the U.S.-China trade war. All that cargo translates into thousands of miles driven within the facility each day, mostly by diesel vehicles, spewing pollutants. For APM Terminals, the part of … [Read more...]
Shipping Industry Expresses Concern Over Recent Trade Developments
The international shipping industry, as represented by multiple major shippowners' associations, is concerned over recent trade developments, particularly increases in protectionist measures which add a significant burden and cost to the free movement of goods. The concerns were expressed by a delegation made of up representatives from the International Chamber of Shipping … [Read more...]
China Faces Diminishing Returns With Tariffs on U.S. Commodities
By Pratish Narayanan (Bloomberg) -- China’s latest retaliation against U.S. tariffs is set to prove largely benign to commodity trade flows as Beijing runs out of raw materials to target. Some products targeted by China tariffs were already squeezed by the long-running trade war. Meanwhile, other politically sensitive items, including soybeans, have been subject … [Read more...]